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Warner BK, Durrant FG, Nguyen SA, Meyer TA. Global Otitis Media Incidence Changes During the COVID Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Laryngoscope 2024; 134:2028-2037. [PMID: 37921380 DOI: 10.1002/lary.31125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim was to analyze the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdowns on the incidence of otitis media (OM), a common otolaryngologic disease. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. REVIEW METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using PRISMA reporting guidelines. OM incidence (measured as newly diagnosed OM cases over total patients seen over a time period), OM antibiotic prescriptions (OM cases for which antibiotics were prescribed over total OM cases), and tympanostomy tube surgeries (all tympanostomy tube surgeries over total surgical cases) were extracted. Meta-analysis of proportions and comparison of proportions were performed. RESULTS Of 1004 studies screened, 26 studies in 11 countries met inclusion criteria. The percentages of OM cases pre- and during-lockdown were 6.67%, 95% CI [4.68%, 8.99%], and 2.63% [2.02%, 3.31%], respectively, with an OR of 0.31 favoring during-lockdown [0.25, 0.39] (p < 0.00001). Antibiotic prescriptions per all OM episodes pre- and during-lockdown were 1.61% [0.17%, 8.46%] and 0.62% [0.07%, 3.32%], with an OR of 0.37 favoring during-lockdown ([0.35, 0.40], p < 0.00001). Tympanostomy tube surgery proportions pre- and during-lockdown were 31.64% [6.85%, 64.26%] and 29.99% [4.14%, 66.55%], with an OR of 0.94 favoring neither during- nor pre-lockdown [0.45, 2.00] (p = 0.88). CONCLUSION The incidence of OM decreased significantly following international lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with antibiotic prescriptions for OM episodes showing a corresponding decrease. Despite these reductions, numbers of tympanostomy tube procedures did not change significantly. These reductions are likely due to social distancing, decreased exposure through high transmission facilities such as day cares, decreased health care utilization, and even possibly decreased air pollution. Laryngoscope, 134:2028-2037, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendon K Warner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Frederick G Durrant
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Shaun A Nguyen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A
| | - Ted A Meyer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A
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Galli J, Sheppard SC, Caversaccio M, Anschuetz L, Beckmann S. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic: increase in complicated upper respiratory tract infections requiring ENT surgery? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:1581-1586. [PMID: 38085305 PMCID: PMC10857962 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08349-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on complicated upper respiratory tract infections requiring surgical intervention in a tertiary referral center. The aim is to understand the consequences of pandemic-related measures and their subsequent relaxation on the incidence and characteristics of upper respiratory tract infection-related complications. METHODS Patients who underwent surgery as a complication of upper respiratory tract infections between December 2014 to February 2023 were included. Demographic information, surgical procedures, microbiological findings, and clinical outcomes were assessed and analyzed comparing pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic groups. RESULTS 321 patients were enrolled, including 105 patients (32.7%) in the pediatric population. Comparison of pre-pandemic (n = 210), pandemic (n = 46) and post-pandemic periods (n = 65) revealed a statistically significant increase in complicated otologic infections requiring surgical intervention in the post-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period (p value = 0.03). No statistically significant differences in other surgical procedures or demographic parameters were observed. A statistically significant increase in urgent ear surgery in the pediatric population between the pandemic and the post-pandemic period (p value = 0.02) was observed. Beta-hemolytic group A streptococcal infections showed a statistically significant increase in the post-pandemic period compared with the pandemic period (p value = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Relaxation of COVID-19-related restrictions was associated with an increase of upper respiratory tract infection-related otologic infections requiring surgical intervention with an increasing rate of beta-hemolytic group A streptococcal infections. These findings highlight the importance of considering the impact of the pandemic on upper respiratory tract infection complications and adapting management strategies accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Galli
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sean C Sheppard
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marco Caversaccio
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Anschuetz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sven Beckmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
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Munhall CC, Shah S, Nguyen SA, Meyer TA, Schlosser RJ, White DR. Otolaryngologic Presentations to Emergency Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2023; 132:1467-1476. [PMID: 37016555 PMCID: PMC10076161 DOI: 10.1177/00034894231165575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic review of otolaryngologic presentation rates to emergency department settings before and after lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SOURCES PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. METHODS A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) for studies describing otolaryngologic presentations to emergency department and rapid access clinic settings both in the before-lockdown and after-lockdown periods. The start of after-lockdown period varied based on initiation of lockdown, ranging from March 1st to June 1st of 2020 across general emergency department studies. RESULTS A total of 14 studies were included in this review. About 10 were general emergency departments, 3 were specifically pediatric emergency departments, and 1 study focused on the geriatric population (>65 years). A total of 13 790 patients were included, with 9446 in the before-lockdown period (68.5%) and 4344 in the after-lockdown period (31.5%). Meta-analysis of proportions for otolaryngologic presentations across general emergency departments was performed. Comparison of weighted proportions found significant differences between before-lockdown and after-lockdown presentation rates for infectious etiologies, tonsillitis specifically, foreign bodies, non-infectious airway issues, and epistaxis among these studies. CONCLUSIONS The increased proportions of various non-infectious presentations (eg, epistaxis, foreign bodies, and airway issues) following lockdown might be associated with proportional decreases in infectious pathologies, given decreased social contact to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Overall, it is important for otolaryngologists to recognize what presentations might more commonly be seen and require evaluation and potential intervention in light of a global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C. Munhall
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sunny Shah
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Shaun A. Nguyen
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Ted A. Meyer
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Rodney J. Schlosser
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - David R. White
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Wilhelm C, Radeloff K, Scherzad A, Scheich M, Hagen R. [COVID-19: Collateral damage in head and neck oncology and preventive measures for future pandemics]. Laryngorhinootologie 2023; 102:104-110. [PMID: 36750111 DOI: 10.1055/a-2007-2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic led to enormous challenges for global healthcare, as capacities and resources had to be made available quickly for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. As a result, restrictions had to be accepted, especially in the care of oncological patients. The collateral damage of these limitations inevitably also affects patients with head and neck cancer. This review article summarizes the development of tumor incidences during the pandemic, internationally developed guidelines for the care of patients with head and neck cancer and studies on the delay in oncological therapies and mortality. In addition, the effects on the mental health of the patients, the psychosocial consequences and ethical issues are examined. In perspective, preventive measures for such negative collateral effects in future pandemics are discussed using the example of a concept for application software (app)-based digital care for patients with head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wilhelm
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Radeloff
- Universitätsklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Agmal Scherzad
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Scheich
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Hagen
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Marom T, Pitaro J, Shah UK, Torretta S, Marchisio P, Kumar AT, Barth PC, Tamir SO. Otitis Media Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:749911. [PMID: 35071032 PMCID: PMC8777025 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.749911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The global coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the prevalence and management of many pediatric infectious diseases, including acute otitis media (AOM). Coronaviruses are a group of RNA viruses that cause respiratory tract infections in humans. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, coronavirus serotypes OC43, 229E, HKU1, and NL63 were infrequently detected in middle ear fluid (MEF) specimens and nasopharyngeal aspirates in children with AOM during the 1990s and 2000s and were associated with a mild course of the disease. At times when CoV was detected in OM cases, the overall viral load was relatively low. The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen responsible for the eruption of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Following the pandemic declaration in many countries and by the World Health Organization in March 2020, preventive proactive measures were imposed to limit COVID-19. These included social distancing; lockdowns; closure of workplaces; kindergartens and schools; increased hygiene; use of antiseptics and alcohol-based gels; frequent temperature measurements and wearing masks. These measures were not the only ones taken, as hospitals and clinics tried to minimize treating non-urgent medical referrals such as OM, and elective surgical procedures were canceled, such as ventilating tube insertion (VTI). These changes and regulations altered the way OM is practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advents in technology allowed a vast use of telemedicine technologies for OM, however, the accuracy of AOM diagnosis in those encounters was in doubt, and antibiotic prescription rates were still reported to be high. There was an overall decrease in AOM episodes and admissions rates and with high spontaneous resolution rates of MEF in children, and a reduction in VTI surgeries. Despite an initial fear regarding viral shedding during myringotomy, the procedure was shown to be safe. Special draping techniques for otologic surgery were suggested. Other aspects of OM practice included the presentation of adult patients with AOM who tested positive for SARS-2-CoV and its detection in MEF samples in living patients and in the mucosa of the middle ear and mastoid in post-mortem specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Marom
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ben Gurion University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ashdod, Israel
| | - Jacob Pitaro
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shamir Medical Center (formerly Assaf Harofeh Medical Center), Zerifin, Israel, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Udayan K Shah
- Pediatric Otolaryngology, Delaware Valley, and Enterprise Chief of Credentialing, Nemours Children's Health System, Wilmington, DE, United States.,Departments of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sara Torretta
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Marchisio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Ayan T Kumar
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Patrick C Barth
- Departments of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Pediatric Otolaryngology, Delaware Valley Nemours Children's Health System, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Sharon Ovnat Tamir
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Ben Gurion University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ashdod, Israel
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