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Turcotte JJ, Brennan JC, Johnson AH, King PJ, MacDonald JH. Managing an epidemic within a pandemic: orthopedic opioid prescribing trends during COVID-19. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2024:10.1007/s00402-024-05329-y. [PMID: 38661999 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-024-05329-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In response to the opioid epidemic, a multitude of policy and clinical-guideline based interventions were launched to combat physician overprescribing. However, the sudden rise of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted all aspects of healthcare delivery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how opioid prescribing patterns changed during the Covid-19 pandemic within a large multispecialty orthopedic practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of 1,048,559 patient encounters from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022 at a single orthopedic practice was performed. Primary outcomes were the percent of encounters with opioids prescribed and total morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per opioid prescription. Differences in outcomes were assessed by calendar year. Encounters were then divided into two groups: pre-Covid (1/1/2019-2/29/2020) and Covid (3/1/2020-12/31/2022). Univariate analyses were used to evaluate differences in diagnoses and outcomes between periods. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess changes in outcomes during Covid after controlling for differences in diagnoses. Statistical significance was assessed at p < 0.05. RESULTS The percentage of encounters with opioids prescribed decreased from a high of 4.0% in 2015 to a low of 1.6% in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.001). MMEs per prescription decreased from 283.6 ± 213.2 in 2015 to a low of 138.6 ± 100.4 in 2019 (p < 0.001). After adjusting for diagnoses, no significant differences in either opioid prescribing rates (post-COVID OR = 0.997, p = 0.893) or MMEs (post-COVID β = 2.726, p = 0.206) were observed between the pre- and post-COVID periods. CONCLUSION During the Covid-19 pandemic opioid prescribing levels remained below historical averages. While continued efforts are needed to minimize opioid overprescribing, it appears that the significant progress made toward this goal was not lost during the pandemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin J Turcotte
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics, 2000 Medical Parkway, Suite 503, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA.
| | - Jane C Brennan
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics, 2000 Medical Parkway, Suite 503, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
| | - Andrea H Johnson
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics, 2000 Medical Parkway, Suite 503, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
| | - Paul J King
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics, 2000 Medical Parkway, Suite 503, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
| | - James H MacDonald
- Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics, 2000 Medical Parkway, Suite 503, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
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Ghoshal S, Stovall N, King AH, Miller AS, Harris MB, Succi MD. Orthopedic Surgery Volume Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Postvaccination Era: Implications for Healthcare Planning. J Arthroplasty 2024:S0883-5403(24)00244-4. [PMID: 38513749 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2024.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic decreased surgical volumes, but prior studies have not investigated recovery through 2022, or analyzed specific procedures or cases of urgency within orthopedic surgery. The aims of this study were to (1) quantify the declines in orthopedic surgery volume during and after the pandemic peak, (2) characterize surgical volume recovery during the postvaccination period, and (3) characterize recovery in the 1-year postvaccine release period. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 27,476 orthopedic surgeries from January 2019 to December 2022 at one urban academic quaternary referral center. We reported trends over the following periods: baseline pre-COVID-19 period (1/6/2019 to 1/4/2020), COVID-19 peak (3/15/2020 to 5/16/2020), post-COVID-19 peak (5/17/2020 to 1/2/2021), postvaccine release (1/3/2021 to 1/1/2022), and 1-year postvaccine release (1/2/2022 to 12/30/2022). Comparisons were performed with 2 sample t-tests. RESULTS Pre-COVID-19 surgical volume fell by 72% at the COVID-19 peak, especially impacting elective procedures (P < .001) and both hip and knee joint arthroplasty (P < .001) procedures. Nonurgent (P = .024) and urgent or emergency (P = .002) cases also significantly decreased. Postpeak recovery before the vaccine saw volumes rise to 92% of baseline, which further rose to 96% and 94% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. While elective procedures surpassed the baseline in 2022, nonurgent and urgent or emergency surgeries remained low. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic substantially reduced orthopedic surgical volumes, which have still not fully recovered through 2022, particularly nonelective procedures. The differential recovery within an orthopedic surgery program may result in increased morbidity and can serve to inform department-level operational recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soham Ghoshal
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator, Innovation in Operations Research Center (MESH IO), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nasir Stovall
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator, Innovation in Operations Research Center (MESH IO), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander H King
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator, Innovation in Operations Research Center (MESH IO), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Amitai S Miller
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator, Innovation in Operations Research Center (MESH IO), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mitchel B Harris
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marc D Succi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator, Innovation in Operations Research Center (MESH IO), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Scigliano NM, Puga TB, Scigliano NM, Williams YK, Boin MA. The Effect of COVID-19 Infection on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgical Repair of Humerus Fractures. Cureus 2024; 16:e56780. [PMID: 38650794 PMCID: PMC11034398 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Limited research exists on the association between coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection and outcomes following surgical fixation for humerus fractures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing humerus fracture surgery. Methods Approval to utilize insurance claim data from the Change Healthcare dataset was obtained from the Datavant COVID-19 Research Database. Patients older than 55 years old who underwent humerus fracture surgery from April 1, 2020, to March 1, 2022, were included in the analysis. COVID-19 status, comorbidities, and adverse events were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic codes. Propensity score matching with age, sex, and comorbidities was completed to create a 1:10 matched COVID-19-negative cohort. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the association of COVID-19 positivity with perioperative adverse events. Results A total of 18,365 patients underwent humerus fracture surgery in this study, of which 132 (0.72%) tested positive for COVID-19. Univariate analysis found that COVID-19-positive patients were at higher risk for myocardial infarction (5.30% vs. 1.74%, p = 0.015) and acute kidney injury (28.79% vs. 12.50%, p < 0.001) when compared to the 1:10 matched COVID-19-negative cohort. In addition, multivariate logistic regression found that COVID-19-positive patients had higher odds of experiencing any adverse event (2.57; 95% CI: 1.69-3.91; p < 0.001) or a minor adverse event (2.44; 95% CI: 1.57-3.79; p < 0.001). Conclusion COVID-19-positive patients have increased odds of experiencing adverse events after undergoing humerus fracture surgery in comparison to a matched COVID-19-negative control. Findings from this study stress the importance of using COVID-19 status as a factor in predicting outcomes following orthopedic surgery in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Troy B Puga
- Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas, USA
| | | | - Yale K Williams
- Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, HCA Research Medical Center, Kansas City University - Graduate Medical Education (GME) Consortium, Kansas, USA
| | - Michael A Boin
- Orthopedic Surgery (Shoulder and Elbow), Orthopedic Health of Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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Wu KA, Anastasio AT, Kim JK, Choudhury A, Adams SB. Evaluating the impact of work from home policies on Google search Trends related to ankle surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 2024:WOR230621. [PMID: 38306085 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic caused notable shifts in healthcare behavior, influenced by remote work policies. This study examines the impact of Work from Home (WFH) policies on public interest in ankle-related orthopaedic surgeries, utilizing Google search trends. Understanding these trends is crucial for healthcare providers, enabling them to adapt services and communication to evolving patient needs during challenging times. OBJECTIVE To comprehend variations in search volume and trends for ankle-related queries due to WFH policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Ankle-related terms accessible to laypersons were analyzed using Google Trends data from March 2018 to March 2022 in the United States. Data were divided into pre-pandemic (March 2018-March 2020) and post-pandemic (March 2020-March 2022) periods. Weekly search interest data for 20 terms were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test. The study aimed to identify significant changes in search interest, providing insights into public information-seeking behavior concerning ankle surgeries. RESULTS Among the 20 terms analyzed, 11 exhibited significant changes. Ankle arthritis and ankle bursitis showed increased interest, suggesting heightened concern during the pandemic. Conversely, post-pandemic interest decreased for terms 9 terms, including ankle pain and ankle tendonitis, indicating reduced worry. Moderate declines were noted for ankle gout, Achilles tendonitis, and heel bursitis, reflecting shifting patient priorities. Some terms, including ankle fracture and ankle arthroplasty, showed stable information-seeking behavior despite the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The study underscores the nuanced impact of WFH policies on public interest in ankle-related orthopaedic surgeries. Varied search trends highlight changing patient concerns. Healthcare providers can use these insights to tailor services effectively, meeting evolving patient needs and enhancing communication strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Wu
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joshua K Kim
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Samuel B Adams
- Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Durham, NC, USA
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Amado V, Trott S, Möller J, Couto MT, Wallis L, Laflamme L. Changing patterns in the burden of paediatric injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study in Mozambique's central hospitals. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1071. [PMID: 37803444 PMCID: PMC10559493 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10073-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a substantial body of knowledge on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on injuries showing frequent but inconsistent reductions in both volume and pattern. Yet, studies specifically addressing children are less common, not least from low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated whether changes in the pattern and outcome of paediatric injury admissions to Mozambique's four regional referral hospitals during 2020. METHODS Clinical charts of paediatric patients presenting to the targeted hospitals with acute injuries were reviewed using a set of child, injury, and outcome characteristics during each of two consecutive restriction periods in 2020 using as a comparator the same periods in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Differences between 2020 and 2019 proportions for any characteristic were examined using the t-test (significance level 0.05). RESULTS During both restriction periods, compared with the previous year, reductions in the number of injuries were noticed in nearly all aspects investigated, albeit more remarkably during the first restriction period, in particular, greater proportions of injuries in the home setting and from burns (7.2% and 11.5% respectively) and a reduced one of discharged patients (by 2.5%). CONCLUSION During the restrictions implemented to contend the pandemic in Mozambique in 2020, although each restriction period saw a drop in the volume of injury admissions at central hospitals, the pattern of child, injury and outcome characteristics did not change much, except for an excess of home and burn injuries in the first, more restrictive period. Whether this reflects the nature of the restrictions only or, rather, other mechanisms that came into play, individual or health systems related, remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanda Amado
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska Huset, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
- Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique.
| | - Sebastien Trott
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jette Möller
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska Huset, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Tereza Couto
- Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
- Mozambique Medical Council Maputo, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Lee Wallis
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lucie Laflamme
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Widerströmska Huset, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute for Social and Health Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Tay HY, Wu WT, Peng CH, Liu KL, Yu TC, Chen IH, Yao TK, Chang CM, Chua JY, Wang JH, Yeh KT. COVID-19 Infection Was Associated with the Functional Outcomes of Hip Fracture among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic Apex. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:1640. [PMID: 37763759 PMCID: PMC10534880 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hip fractures are associated with mortality and poor functional outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected patterns of care and health outcomes among fracture patients. This study aimed to determine the influence of COVID-19 infection on hip fracture recovery. Materials and Methods: We prospectively collected data on patients with hip fractures who presented at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital between 9 March 2022 and 9 September 2022. The data included demographic information and functional scores taken before, during, and after surgery. The patients were divided into two groups: COVID-19 (+) and COVID-19 (-). Results: This study recruited 85 patients, 12 of whom (14.12%) were COVID-19 (+). No significant differences in preoperative or perioperative parameters between the two groups were observed. The postoperative Barthel index score was significantly impacted by COVID-19 infection (p = 0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly correlated with general anesthesia (p = 0.026) and the length of stay (p = 0.004) in hospital. Poor postoperative functional scores were associated with lower preoperative Barthel index scores (p < 0.001). Male sex (p = 0.049), old age (p = 0.012), a high American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (p = 0.029), and a high Charlson comorbidity index score (p = 0.028) were associated with mortality. Conclusions: Hip fracture surgeries were not unduly delayed in our hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the patients' postoperative Barthel index scores were significantly influenced by COVID-19 (+). The preoperative Barthel index score may be a good predictive tool for the postoperative functional recovery of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Yong Tay
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Department of Medical Education, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tien Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Huan Peng
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Kuan-Lin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
| | - Tzai-Chiu Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Ing-Ho Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Kuo Yao
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Chia-Ming Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Jian-Yuan Chua
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Jen-Hung Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan;
| | - Kuang-Ting Yeh
- Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; (H.-Y.T.); (W.-T.W.); (C.-H.P.); (K.-L.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (I.-H.C.); (T.-K.Y.); (C.-M.C.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Department of Medical Education, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
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Iliopoulos ID, Lianou I, Kaspiris A, Ntourantonis D, Arachoviti C, Zafeiris CP, Lambrou GI, Chronopoulos E. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Fragility Fractures of the Hip: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of the Lockdown Periods in Western Greece and Review of the Literature. Geriatrics (Basel) 2023; 8:72. [PMID: 37489320 PMCID: PMC10366837 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics8040072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare systems worldwide, prompting policymakers to implement measures of isolation and eventually adopt strict national lockdowns, which affected mobility, healthcare-seeking behavior, and services, in an unprecedented manner. This study aimed to analyze the effects of these lockdowns on hip-fracture epidemiology and care services, compared to nonpandemic periods in previous years. We retrospectively collected data from electronic patient records of two major hospitals in Western Greece and included patients who suffered a fragility hip fracture and were admitted during the two 5-week lockdown periods in 2020, compared to time-matched patients from 2017-2019. The results showed a drop in hip-fracture incidence, which varied among hospitals and lockdown periods, and conflicting impacts on time to surgery, time to discharge after surgery, and total hospitalization time. The study also found that differences between the two differently organized units were exaggerated during the COVID-19 lockdown periods, highlighting the impact of compliance with social-distancing measures and the reallocation of resources on the quality of healthcare services. Further research is needed to fully understand the specific variations and patterns of geriatric hip-fracture care during emergency health crises characterized by limited resources and behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias D Iliopoulos
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Lianou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, "Rion" University Hospital and Medical School, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Angelos Kaspiris
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Ntourantonis
- Accident and Emergency Department, "Rion" University Hospital and Medical School, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Christine Arachoviti
- Orthopedics Department, General Hospital of Patras "Agios Andreas", 26332 Patras, Greece
| | - Christos P Zafeiris
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
| | - George I Lambrou
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
- Choremeio Research Laboratory, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios Chronopoulos
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
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Won M, Ahn C. Epidemiology and Outcome of Acute Appendicitis during and before the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:medicina59050902. [PMID: 37241134 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59050902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: We investigated epidemiological factors and outcomes, including the development of complications, for patients with appendicitis according to three sequential coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic periods, divided by specific time points. Materials and Methods: This observational study included patients with acute appendicitis who arrived at a single-center between March 2019 and April 2022. The study divided the pandemic into three periods: period A as the first phase of the pandemic (from 1 March 2020 to 22 August 2021), period B as the time period the medical system stabilized (from 23 August 2021 to 31 December 2021), and period C as the time period of the exploration of patients with COVID-19 in South Korea (from 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022). Data collection was based on medical records. The primary outcome was presence or absence of complications and the secondary outcomes were the time taken from ED visit to surgical intervention, the presence and time of the first administration of antibiotics, and the hospital stay time. Results: Of 1,101 patients, 1,039 were included, with 326 and 711 patients before and during the pandemic, respectively. Incidence of complications was not affected during the pandemic (before the pandemic 58.0%; period A 62.7%; period B,55.4%; and period C 58.1%; p = 0.358). Time from symptom onset to emergency department (ED) arrival significantly decreased during the pandemic (before the pandemic 47.8 ± 84.3 h; pandemic 35.0 ± 54 h; p = 0.003). Time from ED visit to the operating room was statistically significantly increased during the pandemic (before the pandemic 14.3 ± 21.67 h; period A 18.8 ± 14.02 h; period B 18.8 ± 8.57 h; period C 18.3 ± 12.95 h; p = 0.001). Age and time from symptom onset to ED arrival were variables affecting the incidence of complications; however, they were not affected during the pandemic (age, OR 2.382; 95% CI 1.545-3.670; time from symptom onset to ED arrival, OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.006-1.010; p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study found no differences in postoperative complications or treatment durations between pandemic periods. The incidence of appendicitis complications was significantly influenced by age and the duration between the onset of symptoms and arrival at the emergency department, but not by the pandemic period itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moonho Won
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Chiwon Ahn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
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Giorgino R, Migliorini F. Clinical Features of COVID-19 in Elderly Patients: Tools for Predicting Outcomes Are Needed. J Clin Med 2022; 11. [PMID: 36556121 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic faced the healthcare landscape with new challenges, impacting work dynamics across all medical disciplines [...].
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