COVID-19 related acute decline in paediatric admissions in Malta, a population-based study

Degiorgio, Sophie; Grech, Neil; Dimech, Yana Marie; Xuereb, John; Grech, Victor

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated non-pandemic hospital admissions worldwide. This population-based study was carried out in order to ascertain whether there were any differences in numbers or characteristics of acute paediatric medical admissions during the first wave of COVID-19 in Malta compared with the corresponding 2019 period. Methods Data was collected from Malta's only acute general hospital using health records and computer databases including iSoft Clinical Manager (ICM) and Electronic Case Summaries (ECS). Data was collected for 1/3–9/5/2019 (control period) and the corresponding 2020 period (study period). Results Acute paediatric medical admissions dropped by 63.5%. Neonates increased by 5.25% (p = 0.001). An increase in child abuse/social paediatric cases (p < 0.001) was noted. Data analysed after school closure revealed a significant drop in the number of communicable (infectious) disease admissions (p < 0.001). There was also a negative correlation between daily paediatric admissions and active COVID-19 cases in Malta (p = 0.005). No significant delay in the presentation of patients was noted and no increased admissions to the NPICU was recorded. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate a decrease in paediatric illnesses due to school closures, possibly exacerbated by fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospital environments. Public health measures to alleviate guardians' concerns are important to decrease further potential avoidable consequences from the ongoing pandemic.