biostudies-literatureYamaguchi Sthe Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Special Research Programe060390https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9058318biostudies-literatureUnknown12(4)<h4>Objectives</h4>We aimed to investigate the impact of the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare service use by non-COVID-19 patients.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>Hospital-based claims database from anonymised hospitals in Japan.<h4>Participants</h4>Patients (n=785 495) who visited and/or were hospitalised in 26 anonymised hospitals in Japan between January 2017 and November 2020.<h4>Outcome measures</h4>We compared changes in the monthly number of hospitalisations (overall or by diagnosis), outpatient visits, endoscopic fibrescopies (EFs), rehabilitations, outpatient chemotherapy treatments, maintenance haemodialysis treatments and outpatient prescriptions between pre-COVID-19 years and the same period in 2020.<h4>Results</h4>The overall number of hospitalisations and outpatient visits decreased by 27% and 22%, respectively, in May 2020, of which the most substantial decrease was observed in the paediatrics department (65% and 51%, respectively). The number of hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms and digestive diseases decreased by a maximum of 55%, 32%, 10% and 26%, respectively, in 2020. The number of hospitalisations for non-COVID-19 pneumonia in patients aged <16 years, patients aged ≥16 years and patients with asthma decreased by 93%, 43% and 80%, respectively, in May 2020. EFs and outpatient rehabilitations decreased by >30%. In contrast, outpatient chemotherapy and maintenance haemodialysis treatments decreased by <10%, if at all. Outpatient prescriptions decreased by a maximum of 20% in 2020, with the largest decrease observed in drugs for obstructive airway diseases and cough and cold preparations.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The use of healthcare services by non-COVID-19 patients was most affected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. The number of hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, particularly non-COVID-19 pneumonia and asthma, drastically decreased, while the number of hospitalisations and outpatient chemotherapies for malignant neoplasms or maintenance haemodialysis was less affected.BMJ openImpact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare service use for non-COVID-19 patients in Japan: retrospective cohort study.PMC9058318JPMH20CA2046Ikeda Kurakawa KYamauchi TSunaga SYamaguchi SKadowaki TNangaku MOkada AfalseImpact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare service use for non-COVID-19 patients in Japan: retrospective cohort study.<h4>Objectives</h4>We aimed to investigate the impact of the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare service use by non-COVID-19 patients.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>Hospital-based claims database from anonymised hospitals in Japan.<h4>Participants</h4>Patients (n=785 495) who visited and/or were hospitalised in 26 anonymised hospitals in Japan between January 2017 and November 2020.<h4>Outcome measures</h4>We compared changes in the monthly number of hospitalisations (overall or by diagnosis), outpatient visits, endoscopic fibrescopies (EFs), rehabilitations, outpatient chemotherapy treatments, maintenance haemodialysis treatments and outpatient prescriptions between pre-COVID-19 years and the same period in 2020.<h4>Results</h4>The overall number of hospitalisations and outpatient visits decreased by 27% and 22%, respectively, in May 2020, of which the most substantial decrease was observed in the paediatrics department (65% and 51%, respectively). The number of hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms and digestive diseases decreased by a maximum of 55%, 32%, 10% and 26%, respectively, in 2020. The number of hospitalisations for non-COVID-19 pneumonia in patients aged <16 years, patients aged ≥16 years and patients with asthma decreased by 93%, 43% and 80%, respectively, in May 2020. EFs and outpatient rehabilitations decreased by >30%. In contrast, outpatient chemotherapy and maintenance haemodialysis treatments decreased by <10%, if at all. Outpatient prescriptions decreased by a maximum of 20% in 2020, with the largest decrease observed in drugs for obstructive airway diseases and cough and cold preparations.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The use of healthcare services by non-COVID-19 patients was most affected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. The number of hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, particularly non-COVID-19 pneumonia and asthma, drastically decreased, while the number of hospitalisations and outpatient chemotherapies for malignant neoplasms or maintenance haemodialysis was less affected.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Apr2025-04-18T14:14:28.28Z2025-04-04T20:22:10.104ZS-EPMC90583183546608110.1136/bmjopen-2021-060390