Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Number and Diversity of Pediatric Burn Intensive Care Unit Cases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: The Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic has effects on the healthcare system, as well as on the care of child burns. In our study, we aimed to compare the numbers and demographic data of patients who were treated and followed up during the pandemic period in our burn intensive care center with the data of patients in the same period one year prior. Methods: The patients who were admitted to our tertiary pediatric burn center were divided into two groups: pandemic period (March 10-September 30, 2020) and pre-pandemic period (March 10-September 30, 2019). The groups were compared in terms of age, gender, city of origin, means of transport to the hospital, total burn surface area, burn etiology, duration of hospitalization, intubation status, and mortality from their medical records. Results: In the pandemic period group, 414 children were admitted to the pediatric burn unit and 126 (30.4%) were hospitalized;however, in the pre-pandemic period group, 728 children were admitted to the pediatric burn unit and 98 (13.4%) were hospitalized (p<0.01). The average total burn surface area was s higher in the pre-pandemic group (16.31%) than in the pandemic group (12.29%). The intubated patient rate in the pandemic group (17.34%) was higher than the pre-pandemic group patients (p=0.005). The mortality rate was 3.1% in the pandemic group and 5.1% in the pre-pandemic group. Conclusion: The rate of hospitalization to burn centers has increased in the pandemic period. However, patients in the pandemic period were mild cases compared to the pre-pandemic period.