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Objective: To assess the impact of social restrictions due to COVID‐19 on the number of tympanostomies and tonsillar surgeries in children. Methods: Incidences were calculated per 100 000 children for tonsillar surgery and tympanostomies in 2020 and compared to the mean incidence of referral years 2017 to 2019 by incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Median waiting times were also compared. Results: Before the lockdown, tonsillar surgery incidence was 33.4/100000 (IRR 1.14, CI 0.76–1.71) in February 2020. After the lockdown began, the incidence of tonsillar surgery was 1.4/100000 (IRR 0.04, CI 0.01–0.15) in April. In June, tonsillar operation incidence started to increase (20.4 per 100 000). The incidence of tympanostomies was 81% lower (IRR 0.19, CI 0.09–0.39) in April 2020 and 61% lower (IRR 0.39, CI 0.22–0.69) in August 2020 than in 2017‐2019. These incidence rates remained lower all year (December 2020 IRR 0.13, CI 0.05–0.33). Median waiting time for tonsillar surgery was 3.3 months in 2020 and 1.6 months in 2017 to 2019; P <.001, and for tympanostomies 1.3 months in 2020 and 1.0 months in 2017 to 2019, P <.001. The referral rate to otorhinolaryngology during the severest restrictions was 35% lower in April and May 2020 compared with the reference years. Conclusion: This study suggests that the restrictions against COVID‐19 reduced the incidence rates of tonsil surgery and tympanostomies in children. Also, the lockdown and cancellations of elective operations in spring 2020 led to increased waiting times. These findings may help in preparing for future pandemics.

We analyze the changes in upper and lower limb pulse transit times (PTT) caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD) and its treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the superficial femoral artery. PTTs were extracted from the photoplethysmograms (PPG) recorded from an index finger and 2nd toes. PTTs were defined between the R-peaks of the ECG and different reference points of the PPG: foot and peak points, maxima of 1st and 2nd derivative, and by means of intersecting tangents method. Also the PTTs between the toe and finger pulses were analyzed. Our sample consists of 24 subjects examined before and after the PTA and in 1-month followup visit. Also 28 older than 65 years controls having normal ankle-to-brachial pressure index (ABI) and no history in cardiovascular diseases as well as 21 younger subjects were examined. The differences between the groups and preand post-treatment phases were analyzed by means of non-parametric statistical tests. The changes in the PTTs of upper limb and non-treated lower limb were negligible. The agreement with the reference values, ABI and toe pressures, was studied by kappa-analysis, resulting in kappa-values of 0.33–0.91. Differences in PTTs were found between pretreatment state of the treated limb, post-treatment state and the follow-up visit, as well as between the pre-treatment state and controls. If patients’ age and systolic blood pressure were taken into consideration, the method of lower limb PTT calculation from the peak point turns out feasible in finding the markers of PAD and monitoring post-treatment vascular remodellation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to show if pulse rise times (PRTs) extracted from photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse waves (PWs) have an association with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or its endovascular treatment, percutanoeus transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the superficial femoral artery. Methods: Lower and upper limb PPG PWs were recorded and analyzed from 24 patients who suffered from PAD. The measurements were conducted before and after the treatment, and one month later by using transmission-mode PPG-probes placed in the index finger and second toe. Ankle-to-brachial pressure index and toe pressures were used as references in clinical patient measurements. PRTs, i.e., the time from the foot point to the peak point of the PW, were extracted from the PWs and compared bilaterally. The results from the PAD patients were also compared with 31 same-aged and 34 younger control subjects. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the pretreatment PRTs of the treated limb of the PAD patients and the same-aged control subjects (p < 10⁻⁹, Mann–Whitney U-test). The changes in the PRT of the treated lower limb were observed immediately after the PTA (p < 0.001, Student’s t -test), and after one month (p < 0.0005), whereas the PRTs of the non-treated lower limb and upper limb did not indicate changes between different examinations. Conclusion: Results show that a PRT greater than 240 ms indicates PAD-lesions in the lower limb. Significance: This proof-of-concept study suggests that the PRT could be an effective and easy-to-use indicator for PAD and monitoring the effectiveness of its treatment.