Clinical Ophthalmology (Jun 2022)
The Impact of the First COVID-19 Lockdown Period on the Inpatient and Outpatient Volume of a University Based Tertiary Referral Center with Corneal Subspecialization in Germany
Abstract
Nadir Maiassi, Kassandra Xanthopoulou, Ursula Löw, Berthold Seitz Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center UKS, Homburg/Saar, Saarland, GermanyCorrespondence: Berthold Seitz, Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center UKS, Homburg/Saar, Saarland, Germany, Tel +49-6841 1622387, Fax +49-68411622380, Email [email protected]/Aims: To determine the impact of COVID-19 on the number of in- and outpatients surgical and diagnostic procedures performed at a southwestern German university hospital with corneal subspecialization.Methods: A retrospective examination of the number of inpatients, several outpatients subunits, in- and outpatient surgeries as well as diagnostic procedures at the Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic “lockdown period” from 18 March until 8 May 2020 in comparison with the corresponding period in 2019 (source: SAP database and electronic patient record FIDUS).Results: The year 2020 showed a significant decrease in the number of inpatient surgeries with a total number of 285 vs 412 in 2019. However, the number of corneal transplantations increased significantly (60 in 2020 vs 54 in 2019, p=0.0089). In the various outpatient units of our department, we observed a significant decrease in the number of consultations (1.711 in 2020 vs 3.194 in 2019), especially for cataract surgery consultations (34 vs 137, p< 0.0001). The number of outpatient surgeries was significantly reduced in 2020, especially for cataract surgery (64 vs 216, p=0.007) and intravitreal injections (577 vs 768, p< 0.0001).Conclusion: Despite taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that our medical care can continue to be available reliably and completely safe during the “Corona lockdown period”, the number of in- and outpatient surgeries and the number of outpatient consultations decreased significantly. However, the number of corneal transplantations still increased.Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, corona-lockdown, SARS-CoV-2
