THE PATTERN OF NON-COVID-19 PAEDIATRIC ADMISSIONS IN MALAYSIA TEACHING HOSPITALS: BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER

Received 2022-07-15; Accepted 2022-11-11; Published 2022-12-31

Authors

  • Siti Aqilah Muhamad Department of Paediatric, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
  • Fahisham Taib Department of Paediatric, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • Rowani Mohd Rawi Department of Paediatric, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
  • Wan Nor Ariffin Biostatistic and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
  • Muhammad Azamin Anuar Department of Paediatric, Kuliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang.
  • Asrar Abu Bakar Department of Paediatric, Kuliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang
  • Intan Juliana Abd Hamid Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Institut Perubatan & Pergigian Termaju, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang.
  • Syed Abdul Khaliq Syed Abdul Hamid Department of Paediatric, Kuliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200, Kuantan, Pahang.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.sp2022no1.4

Abstract

To study the characteristics of paediatric patients admitted to two non-COVID-19 teaching hospitals before and during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. The retrospective study was performed in two phases (before MCO between February to March 2020, and during MCO lockdown between March to April 2020) in two teaching hospitals on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Hospitalized children <18 years were included and those coming for elective procedures or oncology treatment were excluded. The clinical data were retrieved from both hospitals’ admission records. There was a total of 496 and 191 admissions to two teaching hospitals on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, respectively. A significant reduction in the number of non-COVID-19 hospital admissions was seen in both hospitals. For Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, the daily hospital admissions were reduced with a mean of 10 (before MCO) to 7 (during MCO) admissions/day (95% CI 1.54,7.54, p=0.001). In Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre, a reduction in hospital admission was seen from 5 (before MCO) to 3 (during MCO) admissions/day (95% CI 0.61, 3.15, p=0.005). Our study observed a general drop in non-COVID-related respiratory illnesses and infectious disease cases during the MCO period. There were significant differences in neurological (p=0.029) and accident (p = 0.001) cases admissions observed between the two periods. Public health social distancing has indirectly reduced the non-COVID-19 related cases in the hospital settings with an increase in accidental injuries among the children during the MCO period.

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Published

2022-12-31

Issue

Special Issue 1 (2022)

Section

Research article

License

COPYRIGHT. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced, copied or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and recording or otherwise without proper written permission from the publisher. Any opinion expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not reflect that of the University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia