Impact of COVID-19 on seizures-related emergency attendances and hospital admissions - A territory-wide observational study

Leung, William C.Y.; Lau, Eric H.Y.; Kwan, Patrick; Chang, Richard Shek-kwan

This is a territory-wide study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) attendances and acute ward admissions for seizures. Adult patients who presented to the A&E with seizures from January 23, 2020 to March 24, 2020 (study period) were included and compared with parallel intervals from 2015 to 2019 (control periods). Pre-existing time trend in control periods and potential changes during COVID-19 were analyzed by Poisson, negative and logistic regression models. A&E attendances and ward admissions for seizures decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 319 and 230 recorded ward admissions and A&E attendances for seizures were identified during the study period in 2020, compared to 494 and 343 per annum respectively in the control periods. The ratio of acute ward admission per A&E attendance for seizures did not change significantly. Intensive care utility and mortality rates remained stable. For some patients, delaying medical attention due to fear of nosocomial COVID-19 cross-infection may lead to severe or even life-threatening consequences. This change in medical help-seeking behavior calls for new medical care models to meet the service gap. Education to epilepsy patients and their caregivers is of utmost importance during this pandemic.