Long-term results on the severity of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic

Elizabeth Santone, MD; Francesca Izzo, MD; Karina Lo, MD; Aixa M. Pérez Coulter, MS MPH; Nicolas Jabbour, MD; Georgios Orthopoulos, MD, PhD

Surgery Open Science (Jul 2022)

Long-term results on the severity of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic

Elizabeth Santone, MD,
Francesca Izzo, MD,
Karina Lo, MD,
Aixa M. Pérez Coulter, MS MPH,
Nicolas Jabbour, MD,
Georgios Orthopoulos, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Elizabeth Santone, MD: Corresponding author at: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. Tel.: +1 203-314-2550.; Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
Francesca Izzo, MD: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
Karina Lo, MD: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
Aixa M. Pérez Coulter, MS MPH: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
Nicolas Jabbour, MD: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA
Georgios Orthopoulos, MD, PhD: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01199, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Background: Acute appendicitis cases increased in severity following COVID-19–related restrictions in March, 2020. We investigated if similar changes occurred during Wave 2. Methods: Acute appendicitis patients during Wave 1 were grouped 8 weeks before (Group A) and after (Group B) stay-at-home restrictions were initiated on March 15, 2020. Cases in Wave 2 were grouped 8 weeks before (Group C) and after (Group D) November 6, 2020. Groups were compared to equivalent time frames in 2018/2019. Results: Group A versus B revealed 42.6% decrease (confidence interval: −59.4 to −25.7) in uncomplicated appendicitis and 21.1% increase (confidence interval: 4.8–37.3) in perforated appendicitis. Similar patterns were noted comparing Group C versus D without statistical significance. The changes seen in Wave 1 were significantly different than in 2018/2019. This trend continued in Wave 2. Conclusion: Similar to Wave 1, acute appendicitis cases increased in severity during wave 2 of COVID-19, but with less prominence.

Published in Surgery Open Science

ISSN: 2589-8450 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/surgery-open-science/

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