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[The impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on patients who attend a pediatric emergency department for mental health issues].
- Source :
-
Andes pediatrica : revista Chilena de pediatria [Andes Pediatr] 2023 Apr; Vol. 94 (2), pp. 219-226. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Apr 04. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- The lockdown during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the effect of the virus on the population could be a precipitating factor for mental health disorders in the pediatric population.<br />Objective: To compare the reasons for consultation, diagnoses at discharge, and admission and re-consultation rates of pediatric patients attending the Emergency Department due to mental health disorders before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown.<br />Patients and Method: Retrospective, descriptive study. Patients under 16 years of age consulting due to mental health-related disorders during the pre- (07/01/2018-07/01/2019) and post-lockdown (07/01/2020-07/01/2021) periods were included. The frequency of mental health diagnoses, need for drug administration, hospitalization, and reconsultations were compared.<br />Results: 760 patients were included, 399 pre-lockdown and 361 postlockdown. After the lockdown, there was a 45.7% increase in the frequency of mental health-related consultations with respect to the total number of emergency consultations. Behavioral alterations were the most frequent reason for consultation in both groups (34.3% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.54). In the post-lockdown period, consultations related to self-harm attempts (16.3% vs. 24.4%, p < 0.01) and the diagnosis of depression (7.5% vs. 18.5%, p < 0.01) increased significantly. There was an increase of 58.8% in patients who were hospitalized with respect to the total number of ED patients (0.17% vs. 0.27%, p = 0.003) and in the number of re-consultations (12% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.026). No differences were observed in days of hospitalization (7 days [IQR 4-13] vs. 9 days [IQR 9-14], p0.45).<br />Conclusion: In the post-lockdown period, the proportion of pediatric patients presenting to the ED with mental health disturbances increased.
Details
- Language :
- Spanish; Castilian
- ISSN :
- 2452-6053
- Volume :
- 94
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Andes pediatrica : revista Chilena de pediatria
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37358115
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.32641/andespediatr.v94i2.4471