1. Epidemiological changes in the pattern of children's traumatic injuries at Hong Kong emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, single-institutional, serial and comparative study.
- Author
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Tsang JT, Fung AC, Wong HH, Dai WC, and Wong KK
- Subjects
- Humans, Hong Kong epidemiology, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Adolescent, Infant, Incidence, Pandemics, Trauma Centers statistics & numerical data, Length of Stay statistics & numerical data, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 epidemiology, Wounds and Injuries epidemiology, Emergency Service, Hospital statistics & numerical data, Injury Severity Score
- Abstract
Introduction: Trauma is the leading cause of paediatric mortality and morbidity. Stay-home regulations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reportedly changed trauma severity, yet data from Hong Kong were lacking. This study examined Hong Kong's spectrum of paediatric trauma and addressed knowledge gaps concerning epidemiological changes during COVID-19., Methods: Children with traumatic injuries who attended a tertiary trauma centre from January 2010 to March 2022 were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. We analysed demographic and clinical data and conducted unadjusted bivariate analyses of injury patterns before and after the pandemic., Results: In total, 725 children attended the Accident and Emergency Department due to trauma, 585 before and 140 during COVID-19. The male-to-female ratio was 1.84:1. The 90-day trauma-related mortality was 0.7%. The overall Injury Severity Score was 3.52 ± 5.95. The paediatric trauma incidence was similar before and after social-distancing policies (both 5.8 cases monthly). Gender, ISS distribution, intensive care unit stay length, and hospital stay length values were similar (p > 0.05). Trauma call activation (8.4% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.002) and road traffic accidents (10.6% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.009) significantly decreased, yet younger-patient injuries (< 10 years old; 85.7% vs. 71%, p < 0.001), burns (28% vs. 45.7%, p < 0.001), and domestic injuries (65.5% vs. 85.7%, p < 0.001) significantly increased. No significant self-harm, assault, or abuse increases were found., Conclusions: The paediatric trauma incidences were similar before and during the pandemic. However, domestic and burn injuries significantly increased, highlighting the importance of injury prevention., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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