Coronavirus Disease Pandemic Effect on Medical-Seeking Behaviors Even in One Resource-Competent Community

A Case Controlled Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15514831
AuthorsFang Wang (0000-0001-7353-9080, National Taiwan University Hospital), Jin‐Ming Wu (0000-0002-1821-239X, National Taiwan University Hospital), Yi‐Chieh Lin (0000-0002-7100-9550, Kaohsiung Medical University), Yi-Chieh Lin (0000-0002-8520-2431, Kaohsiung Medical University), Te‐Wei Ho (0000-0002-4371-6936, National Taiwan University Hospital), Hui-Lin Lin (0000-0001-7648-4919, National Taiwan University Hospital), Hsi‐Yu Yu (0000-0001-6669-4699, National Taiwan University Hospital, corresponding author), Hsi-Yu Yu (Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan), I‐Rue Lai (0000-0002-3444-8255, National Taiwan University Hospital, corresponding author), I-Rue Lai (Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue17
Pages10822-10822
Publication date2022-08-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph191710822
PMID36078536
OpenAlexW4293694114
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

(1) Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had overwhelming impacts on medical services. During its initial surge, Taiwan was unique in maintaining its medical services without imposing travel restrictions, which provided an ideal environment in which to test if the fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 interfered with health-seeking behavior (HSB). We tested this hypothesis among adults with acute complicated appendicitis (ACA). (2) Methods: Adults with acute appendicitis were enrolled between 1 January and 30 June 2020 (COVID-19 period). The first two quarters of the preceding 3 years were defined as a historical control group. Outcome measures included the rate of ACA and the number of hospital stays. (3) Results: The COVID-19 era included 145 patients with acute appendicitis. Compared to the historical control (320 patients), the COVID-19 era was significantly associated with a higher length of symptom duration until presentation to the emergency room within >48 h (17.2% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.011), a higher incidence of ACA (29.7% vs. 19.4%, p = 0.014), and a longer length of hospital stays (5.0 days vs. 4.0 days, p = 0.043). The adjusted models showed that the COVID-19 period had a significant relationship with a higher rate of ACA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-2.52; p = 0.008) and longer length of hospital stays (OR= 2.10; 95% CI: 0.92 to 3.31; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The fear of COVID-19 may prohibit patients from seeking medical help, worsening their clinical outcomes. The surgical community should take action to provide scientific information to relive mental stress

Confidence interval · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Emergency department · Incidence (geometry · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Odds ratio · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Appendicitis Diagnosis and Management · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · Healthcare cost, quality, practices · Medicine · Emergency Medicine · Internal Medicine

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