Analysis of ENT emergency patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

This retrospective observational study was undertaken to assess the ENT emergency workload during the severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) –(COVID-19) pandemic.

All 3230 patients who were treated as an emergency from 23.01.2020 until 06.08.2020 in the Department of Otolaryngology at the SLK-Klinikum Heilbronn were included in this study. Demographic data, performed diagnostics, diagnosis, treatment and hospitalization were retrospectively retrieved. Not only did the physicians on call triage the ED (emergency department) ENT patients, but also the patient her-/himself assessed their urgency of treatment.

Patients consulting our ED decreased significantly during the pandemic by 42.2 %.

However, the top diagnoses nearly remained the same with epistaxis being the most frequent diagnosis before, during and after COVID-19. The self-referral rate increased slightly during the pandemic. More men than women consulted the ED during COVID-19. Regarding the triage assessment by the physician on call and by the patient her-/himself a significant discrepancy was noted before, during and after COVID-19.

The reasons for reduction in ENT ED visits are multifactorial. The clinical consequences of decreased hospitalizations remain uncertain. However, health authorities need to advocate the safety of hospital environment to limit potential damage.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022