The impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on pediatric hospitalization in Kitami, Japan

Maruo, Yuji; Ishikawa, Shinichi; Oura, Kazumi; Shiraishi, Haruki; Sato, Norio; Suganuma, Takashi; Mikawa, Makoto; Sato, Tomonobu

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has drastically changed the recommended activities and environment of patients worldwide. Our aim was to assess the impact of COVID‐19 on pediatric hospitalizations in Kitami, Japan. METHODS: A retrospective, single‐center study was conducted on hospitalized patients aged 0–14 years at the Japanese Red Cross Kitami Hospital. We compared the incidence of pediatric patients hospitalized in 2020 with those in 2017–2019. RESULTS: The number of pediatric hospitalized patients dropped significantly in 2020 compared to that in 2017–2019 (median 43.0 vs. 78.5 per month, p < 0.001). The age was significantly older in 2020 (4.3 vs. 3.4 years, p < 0.001). Hospitalization from respiratory (8.5 vs. 30.5, p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal infections (3.0 vs. 6.0, p = 0.004) significantly decreased. Admission due to respiratory syncytial virus (0.0 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001), human metapneumovirus (0.0 vs. 1.0, p = 0.005), influenza (0.0 vs. 0.0, p = 0.009), adenovirus (0.0 vs. 1.0, p = 0.003), and rotavirus infection (0.0 vs. 0.0, p = 0.025) also decreased significantly. The <1–5 age groups significantly decreased (< 1 year old, 6.5 vs. 12.5, p < 0.001; 1–3 years old, 13.0 vs. 29.5, p < 0.001; 4–5 years old, 5.5 vs. 11.5, p < 0.001). Hospitalization due to foreign body ingestions increased significantly in 2020 (1.0 vs. 0.0, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID‐19 control measures inadvertently reduced the number of hospitalized pediatric patients, especially in younger children with respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.