Objective: This population-based, retrospective study aimed to determine whether there was a drop in pediatric admissions during the first year of COVID-19 in Malta, as reported in other centers worldwide, as well as to determine any differences in patient characteristics when compared to the previous year.
Materials And Methods: All unplanned pediatric medical admissions to Mater Dei Hospital from March 1, 2020 (a few days before the first case of COVID-19 in Malta) till February 28, 2021 (study period) and the corresponding period in 2019/20 (control period) and characteristics of patients admitted during the first 10 weeks (first wave of COVID-19) were analyzed.
Results: Pediatric admissions dropped by 57.7% during the first year of COVID-19 (1601 vs. 3789 in 2019). During the first wave of COVID-19, a higher percentage of neonates were admitted in 2020 when compared to all other ages. There was a lower prevalence of respiratory illnesses during the first wave of COVID-19 (31.6% vs. 47.5% in 2019, P < .001), with a higher prevalence of cases related to child abuse or adverse socio-economic circumstances (2020, 9 [3.4%] vs 1 [0.1%] in 2019, P < .001). Following school closures, a drop in communicable disease admissions was recorded (68 [42.2%] vs. 421 [70.3%] in 2019, P < .001). A negative correlation between daily pediatric admissions and active COVID-19 cases in Malta was noted (r (68) = -0.33, P = .005).
Conclusion: The drop in admissions likely represents fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospital environments, together with a decline in communicable diseases due to school closures. Guardians' concerns must be alleviated as best as possible by effective public health measures.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8867502 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2022.21145 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Hip Fractures in Malta: Does Delay in Surgery Affect Clinical Outcomes?
Cureus
December 2024
Surgery, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, MLT.
Introduction: Hip fractures are common and are a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly population, particularly when treatment is delayed. The British Orthopaedic Association's (BOA) guidelines state that surgical treatment should be performed within 36 hours of admission. This study aimed to investigate the effects of delays in surgery on clinical outcomes and to evaluate mortality rates over a three-year follow-up period following proximal femoral fractures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Human Nasal Microbiome: A Perspective Study During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Malta.
Microorganisms
December 2024
The BioArte Ltd., Life Science Park, Triq San Giljan, 3000 San Gwann, Malta.
The human respiratory tract is colonized by a complex microbial community that helps maintain respiratory health and plays a crucial role in defending the host from infections. Respiratory viruses have been demonstrated to alter microbiota composition, resulting in opportunistic species expansion, and increasing the disease severity and host susceptibility to bacterial co-infections. This study aims to examine the compositional differences in the nasal microbiota between SARS-CoV-2-infected and non-infected patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAligning corporate social responsibility with artificial intelligence in healthcare in the context of the post-COVID-19 recovery: a viewpoint.
J Health Organ Manag
January 2025
University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
Purpose: This study explores how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be combined in the healthcare industry during the post-COVID-19 recovery phase. The aim is to showcase how this fusion can help tackle healthcare inequalities, enhance accessibility and support long-term sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a viewpoint approach, the study leverages existing literature and case studies to analyze the intersection of CSR and AI.
Successful Aging Across Middle Versus High-Income Countries: An Analysis of the Role of eHealth Literacy Associated With Loneliness and Well-Being.
Gerontologist
December 2024
School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Background And Objectives: "Successful aging" concerns the process of growing older while maintaining physical, cognitive, and social well-being, emphasizing independence for overall satisfaction and quality of life. We investigate the impact of eHealth literacy on reducing loneliness and sustaining well-being during the pandemic, comparing middle- and high-income countries.
Research Design And Methods: Online surveys were conducted between April 4, 2020, and September 30, 2021, collecting responses (N = 2,091) from medium- and high-income countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Article Synopsis
- The World Health Assembly set six global nutrition targets (GNTs) in 2012 to improve maternal and child health, but there has been no comprehensive report detailing progress from 2012 to 2021.
- A study evaluated the prevalence and impact of these nutrition targets across 204 countries using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 and projected future trends up to 2050.
- By 2021, only a few countries met some GNTs; most showed increased child overweight and notable decreases in female anaemia, highlighting a connection between societal development status and nutritional challenges.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!