Increased Incidence of Perforated Appendicitis in Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Bavarian Multi-Center Study

• DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.683607
• Publication Date: 2021-05-07T15:41:26Z
• Authors: Frank-Mattias Sch...; Johannes Meyer; Stephan Kellnar; Jakob Warmbrunn; Tobias Schuster; Stefanie Simon; Thomas Meyer; Julia Platzer; Jochen Hubertus; Sigurd T. Seitz; Christian Knorr; Maximilian Stehr
• Keywords: Pandemic; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Center (category theory); Coronavirus Infections

Introduction: Since early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic and statutory preventive reorganization of treatment capacities with cancellation elective surgery as well curfew regulations led to vastly decreased utilization primary health care. Materials Methods: To assess whether there are negative effects on pediatric acute care in Bavaria during spring lockdown a state-wide retrospective multi-center study was performed analyze rate perforated appendicitis lockdown. Children who have been operated corresponding period 2018/19 served control group. Results: Overall, 514 patients (292 boys, 222 girls) were included (2020: 176 patients; 2019: 181 2018: 157 patients). Median age 11.2 years. Four hundred thirty-nine (85.4%) underwent laparoscopic surgery, 69 (13.4%) open 1.2% conversion from surgery. In perforation 27.8% (49/176 patients) found, 2018–2019 20.7% (70/338 patients, p = 0.0359, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel-Test). Subgroup analysis showed that younger (≤ years), significantly higher 37.6% (32/85 patients), while 22.2% (39/176) 2018/2019 ( 0.014, Fisher's exact test).In boys 35.0% (35/100 compared 21.4% 0.0165, test). Conclusion: During childhood increased significantly, especially children boys. Potentially this has be attributed delayed presentation Because potential long-term sequelae these adverse taken into account for future political decision making ensure reasonable patient avoid collateral damage near-future or on-going situations.