Incidence of appendicitis during COVID-19 lockdown: A nationwide population-based study.

Aim: To investigate how a nationwide lockdown influences the incidence of appendicitis.

Background: Communitive infectious diseases may play a role in the pathogenesis of appendicitis as indicated by a seasonal variation in the incidence rate. The spread of communitive infectious diseases has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown; thus, we have an opportunity to study the incidence rate of appendicitis in an environment with less impact from common community infections.