Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-7626
Authors: Thiem, Daniel G. E.
Polsak, Marie-Theres
Römer, Paul
Gielisch, Matthias
Blatt, Sebastian
Al-Nawas, Bilal
Kämmerer, Peer W.
Title: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dental-maxillofacial emergency service of a German university hospital in the year 2020
Online publication date: 29-Aug-2022
Year of first publication: 2022
Language: english
Abstract: Objectives COVID-19 is considered one of the most serious pandemic in history and has posed major challenges to the world’s health care. Dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery (CMFS) are particularly affected due to direct exposure to the respiratory tract, as the reservoir of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, the impact of the COVID-19-pandemic on a dental and CMFS emergency services in Germany in 2020 was first time investigated and correlated with governmental restriction measures in public life. Materials and methods Epidemiological data of a German University Hospital were analysed from a total of 8386 patients in 2019 and 2020. Parameters included information on demographics, time, weekday and reason for presentation, as well as diagnosis and therapy performed. Data from 2020 were compared with those from 2019, taking into account the nationwide periods of public life restrictions. Results In 2020, 22% fewer patients presented via dental and CMFS emergency service. In a monthly comparison, there were negative peaks of up to − 41% in November, but also a plus of 26% in July. The largest decreases were recorded during the lockdown periods in spring (− 33%) and winter (− 39%). Further, a threefold increase in actual emergencies and inpatient admissions revealed during these time periods (p < 0.001). Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the dental and CMFS emergency service in 2020 resulting in more severe cases. Clinical relevance This study underlines the importance of maintaining an emergency service system and basic outpatient care in these specialities, which requires uniform recommendations from the medical-dental societies and politics.
DDC: 610 Medizin
610 Medical sciences
Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department: FB 04 Medizin
Place: Mainz
ROR: https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI: http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-7626
Version: Published version
Publication type: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License: CC BY
Information on rights of use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal: Clinical oral investigations
26
Pages or article number: 385
395
Publisher: Springer
Publisher place: Berlin u.a.
Issue date: 2022
ISSN: 1436-3771
Publisher DOI: 10.1007/s00784-021-04010-7
Appears in collections:JGU-Publikationen

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