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OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between disability and the demand for medical emergency care by citizens of Peru over the age of 18 years in 2019. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of secondary data from the national survey of budgeted programs (ENAPRES, in its Peruvian abbreviation) of 2019. Disabilities were surveyed based on the criteria of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics. Medical emergencies were queried using 2 questions referring to life-threatening situations. Sociodemographic covariables and variables related to certain medical emergencies were also analyzed as possible confounders. Poisson regression analysis was carried out and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios calculated. Calculations were performed on a complex sample of data from the ENAPRES 2019 survey. RESULTS: Data for 62 959 persons over the age of 18 years were included. Some type of disability was reported by 4.3% of the sample, and 8.7% reported a medical emergency during the past year. Persons with 3 or more disabilities were 2.97-fold more likely to have a medical emergency than persons without disabilities (prevalence ratio, 2.97 (95% CI, 2.28-3.87) after adjustment for multiple confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Disabled persons were more likely to have medical emergencies than persons without disabilities in Peru in 2019. The likelihood of medical emergencies was slightly higher in those with 3 or more disabilities.
OBJETIVO: Estimar la asociación entre la condición de discapacidad y la demanda de urgencias médicas en los ciudadanos peruanos mayores de 18 años durante el año 2019. METODO: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico de datos secundarios de la Encuesta Nacional de Programas Presupuestales (ENAPRES) 2019. La discapacidad se determinó con las preguntas del grupo de Washington y la demanda de urgencias médicas se evaluó con dos preguntas referidas a situaciones que ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas. Se incluyeron covariables sociodemográficas y relacionadas con las urgencias médicas, como posibles confusores. Se llevó a cabo una regresión de Poisson y se estimaron razones de prevalencia (RP) crudas y ajustadas. Todos los cálculos se hicieron de acuerdo con el muestreo complejo de la ENAPRES 2019. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron los datos de 62.959 personas mayores de 18 años. El 4,3% tenía algún tipo de discapacidad y el 8,7% tuvo una urgencia médica en el último año. Las personas con tres o más tipos de discapacidad tuvieron 2,97 veces más probabilidades de tener una urgencia médica, en comparación con las personas sin discapacidad [RP = 2,97 (IC 95%: 2,28-3,87)], ajustado por múltiples variables de confusión. CONCLUSIONES: En el Perú, durante el año 2019, las personas con discapacidad tuvieron más probabilidades de tener una urgencia médica en comparación con las personas sin discapacidad. Estas probabilidades fueron ligeramente mayores cuando las personas tenían tres o más discapacidades.
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Personas con Discapacidad , Urgencias Médicas , Humanos , Perú/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Personas con Discapacidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto Joven , Adolescente , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Anciano , Prevalencia , Servicios Médicos de Urgencia/estadística & datos numéricosAsunto(s)
Brotes de Enfermedades , Urgencias Médicas , Salud Global , Organización Mundial de la Salud , Humanos , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , Brotes de Enfermedades/estadística & datos numéricos , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Salud Global/estadística & datos numéricos , Organización Mundial de la Salud/organización & administraciónRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive crisis (HC) encompasses hypertensive emergencies (HE) and urgencies (HU). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample was conducted, and all hospitalizations for HC were identified with their ICD-10 codes. A probability estimation of outcomes was calculated by performing multivariable logistic regression analysis, which took confounders into account. Our primary outcomes were SDs of HC. Secondary outcomes were myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), and transient ischemic attack (TIA). RESULTS: The minority populations were more likely than the Whites to be diagnosed with HCs: Black 2.7 (2.6-2.9), Hispanic 1.2 (1.2-1.3), and Asian population 1.4 (1.3-1.5), (p < 0.0001, all). Furthermore, being male 1.1 (1.09-1.2, p < 0.0001), those with 'self-pay' insurance 1.02 (1.01-1.03, p < 0.0001), and those in the <25th percentile of median household income 1.3 (1.2-1.3, p < 0.0001), were more likely to be diagnosed with HCs. The Black population had the highest likelihood of end-organ damage: MI 2.7 (2.6-2.9), Stroke 3.2 (3.1-3.4), AKI 2.4 (2.2-2.5), and TIA 2.8 (2.7-3.0), (p < 0.0001, all), compared to their Caucasian counterpart. CONCLUSIONS: Being of a minority population, male sex, low-income status, and uninsured were associated with a higher likelihood of hypertensive crisis. The black population was the youngest and had the highest risk of hypertensive emergencies. Targeted interventions and healthcare policies should be implemented to address these disparities and enhance patient outcomes.
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Hospitalización , Hipertensión , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Socioeconómicos , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Adulto , Crisis HipertensivaAsunto(s)
Brotes de Enfermedades , Infecciones Neumocócicas , Humanos , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , Infecciones Neumocócicas/epidemiología , Infecciones Neumocócicas/prevención & control , Infecciones Neumocócicas/microbiología , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Vacunas Neumococicas/uso terapéutico , Streptococcus pneumoniae/patogenicidad , AltruismoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Employment is a well-documented social determinant of physical and mental health and can be used to determine who is disproportionately affected by public health emergencies. We examined trends in unemployment overall and by gender, by race or ethnic group, and by their interaction for 2 public health emergencies (the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 California wildfires). METHODS: We obtained summary data files on the number of initial unemployment insurance (IUI) claims made in all 58 California counties from January 2018 through December 2021. We fit fixed-effects Poisson regression models to county data on weekly IUI claims cross-classified by gender and race or ethnic group. We used models to evaluate the overall effect of COVID-19, whether this effect changed over time increasing under compounding emergencies, and whether the overall and compounding effects of COVID-19 differed by gender and race or ethnic group. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, weekly IUI claims rates increased to as much as 10 times their prepandemic level. The increase in IUI claims for COVID-19 weeks, compared with weeks from the same month in the 2 years prior, was greater for women than for men of all race or ethnic groups, except for Black women. The higher rates of IUI claims for most women during COVID-19 entailed a reversal of prepandemic gender differences in claims that persisted through 2021. CONCLUSION: Public health officials should consider using IUI claims for surveillance of social determinants of health, particularly in the context of emergencies, which we show can have a persisting effect on the social patterning of social determinants. Future research is needed to forecast these affects and inform public health and policy mitigation and prevention strategies.
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COVID-19 , Determinantes Sociales de la Salud , Desempleo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , California/epidemiología , COVID-19/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Etnicidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Longitudinales , Pandemias , Salud Pública , Factores Sexuales , Desempleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Grupos Raciales/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
AIM: This study aimed to investigate the impact of communicable diseases with epidemic potential in complex emergency (CE) situations, focusing on the epidemiological profile of incidence and mortality and exploring underlying factors contributing to increased epidemic risks. METHODS: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we conducted a scoping review of articles published between 1990 and 2022. The search included terms related to complex emergencies, communicable diseases, outbreaks, and epidemics. We identified 92 epidemics related to CE occurring in 32 different countries. RESULTS: Communicable diseases like Shigellosis, Cholera, Measles, Meningococcal meningitis, Yellow Fever, and Malaria caused significant morbidity and mortality. Diarrhoeal diseases, particularly Cholera and Shigellosis, had the highest incidence rates. Shigella specifically had an incidence of 241.0 per 1000 (people at risk), with a mortality rate of 11.7 per 1000, while Cholera's incidence was 13.0 per 1000, with a mortality rate of 0.22 per 1000. Measles followed, with an incidence of 25.0 per 1000 and a mortality rate of 0.76 per 1000. Meningococcal Meningitis had an incidence rate of 1.3 per 1000 and a mortality rate of 0.13 per 1000. Despite their lower incidences, yellow fever at 0.8 per 1000 and malaria at 0.4 per 1000, their high case fatality rates of 20.1% and 0.4% remained concerning in CE. The qualitative synthesis reveals that factors such as water, sanitation, and hygiene, shelter and settlements, food and nutrition, and public health and healthcare in complex emergencies affect the risk of epidemics. CONCLUSION: Epidemics during complex emergencies could potentially lead to a public health crisis. Between 1990 and 2022, there have been no statistically significant changes in the trend of incidence, mortality, or fatality rates of epidemic diseases in CE. It is crucial to understand that all epidemics identified in CE are fundamentally preventable.
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Urgencias Médicas , Epidemias , Humanos , Incidencia , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles/mortalidad , AltruismoRESUMEN
Introduction: In Italy, at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic, only emergency and life-saving elective surgical procedures were allowed with obvious limitations in terms of numbers of operable cases. The aim of our study is to evaluate the performance of surgical activities by Apulian healthcare facilities (Southern Italy) under the pandemic emergency pressure. Methods: The surgical procedures in study were identified via the Apulian regional archive of hospital discharge forms. We used the ICD9 codes in order to define the elective and urgency surgeries in analysis, and we extended our search to all procedures performed from 2019 to 2021. Results: The number of all procedures decreased from 2019 to 2020; the reduction was higher for elective surgery (-43.7%) than urgency surgery (-15.5%). In 2021, an increase compared to 2020 was recorded for all procedures; nevertheless, elective surgeries registered a further slightly decrease compared to 2019 (-12.4%), while a slightly increase was observed for urgency surgeries (+3.5%). No particular variation was observed considering sex and age at surgery of the patients, and days of hospitalization from 2019 to 2021. Conclusions: The impact of COVID19 on Apulian regional health system has been extremely shocked and has required the implementation of strategies aimed at containing the infection and guaranteeing health services as far as possible. A new paradigm of hospital care for SARS-COV-2 patients in the post-emergency phase in Italy is needed, in order to optimize the resources available and to guarantee high standards of quality and efficiency for citizens.
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COVID-19 , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Electivos , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Italia/epidemiología , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Electivos/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Adulto , Pandemias , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto Joven , Niño , Anciano de 80 o más AñosAsunto(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiologíaAsunto(s)
Brotes de Enfermedades , Aprobación de Drogas , Urgencias Médicas , Salud Pública , Humanos , Brotes de Enfermedades/legislación & jurisprudencia , Salud Pública/legislación & jurisprudencia , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Aprobación de Drogas/legislación & jurisprudenciaRESUMEN
To evaluate the frequency of dental emergencies and specifications, along with the patient's profile attended at the Clinical School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Juiz de Fora Health (Supreme). We selected 152 medical records of clinical dental school of Juiz de Fora University Hospital - MG were selected and assessed the patient's profile and the classification of emergency cases. It was found that 57.2% of the patients were female and 42.7% male. The age of these patients is on average 44 years and the most frequent causes of visits were: dental prosthesis, endodontic and dental trauma. It can be conclude that some of the diseases found in dental emergencies are likely to be prevented or identified early on. Patients with pain are part of most attending emergency care services. In order to control the emergency care and improve the solvability, preventive actions should be developed, promoting a preventive rather than curative health.
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Registros Médicos , Clínicas Odontológicas , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Atención AmbulatoriaRESUMEN
Introducción: Las urgencias psiquiátricas en la edad pediátrica constituyen un problema de salud pública. Objetivo: Describir las urgencias psiquiátricas y la conducta seguida, en el momento de su evaluación, en pacientes atendidos en consulta de urgencia. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, en 340 pacientes examinados en el Hospital Pediátrico "Juan Manuel Márquez", de enero a abril de 2019. Se utilizó un instrumento validado en estudios anteriores y se realizó entrevista a pacientes y familiares. El procesamiento y análisis de los datos se realizó con el SPSS 21 y estadígrafos descriptivos. Para la comparación de frecuencias observadas y esperadas de una variable se empleó la prueba binomial, y la Ji-cuadrada, con una probabilidad de 0,5 por ciento. Resultados: El 53,8 por ciento de los pacientes declararon entre 15 y 19 años; 50,3 por ciento varones. El 61,2 por ciento presentaban antecedentes patológicos psiquiátricos y 40,3 por ciento procedía de medios familiares problemáticos. Entre los principales motivos de consulta destacaron la conducta suicida y el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. El 25 por ciento de los pacientes requirió hospitalización, el resto se derivó a la atención ambulatoria. En más de 60 por ciento se utilizaron psicofármacos. Conclusiones: Predominaron en el estudio los adolescentes, masculinos, con antecedentes patológicos personales de enfermedad psiquiátrica, procedentes de medios familiares conflictivos, con diagnóstico de trastornos del comportamiento, conducta suicida, trastornos afectivos, psicosis y trastornos adictivos; entre estos últimos, se diagnosticó la patología dual. Solo la cuarta parte requirió hospitalización y en la mayoría se usaron psicofármacos (AU)
Introduction: Psychiatric emergencies in pediatric age constitute a public health problem. Objective: To describe the psychiatric emergencies and the behavior followed, at the time of their evaluation, in patients attended in an emergency consultation. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study in 340 patients examined at Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, from January to April 2019. An instrument validated in previous studies was used and interviews were conducted with patients and relatives. Data processing and analysis was performed with SPSS 21 and descriptive statistics were used. For the comparison of observed and expected frequencies of a variable, the binomial test and the Chi-square, with a probability of 0.5 percent were used. Results: 53.8 percent of patients were between 15 and 19 years old, and 50.3 percent were male. 61.2 percent had a psychiatric pathological history and 40.3 percent came from problematic family environments. Among the main reasons for consultation were suicidal behaviour and the consumption of psychoactive substances. 25 pecent of patients required hospitalization, the rest were referred to outpatient care. Psychotropic drugs were used in more than 60 percent. Conclusions: In the study predominated adolescents, males, with a personal pathological history of psychiatric illness, from conflictive family environments, diagnosed with behavioral disorders, suicidal behavior, affective disorders, psychosis and addictive disorders; among the latter, dual pathology was diagnosed. Only a quarter required hospitalization and most used psychotropic drugs(AU)
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Niño , Adolescente , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Psicotrópicos/uso terapéutico , Epidemiología Descriptiva , Estudios Transversales , Trastorno Depresivo/epidemiología , Ideación Suicida , Estudio Observacional , Atención Ambulatoria/métodos , HospitalizaciónRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the volunteering experience in two states of emergency in Israel: Operation Protective Edge (a military man-made emergency) and the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (a natural emergency). The sample included 993 volunteers, of whom 498 volunteered during Operation Protective Edge and 504 during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative research design was used to investigate three aspects of the volunteering experience: motives for volunteering, satisfaction from volunteering, and commitment to volunteer. Social solidarity was the most prominent motive for volunteering in both emergencies. The level of the egoistic motives, the intrinsic satisfaction from volunteering, and long-term commitment to volunteering were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than among the volunteers during the military operation. We used a qualitative research design to investigate the experience of special moments in volunteering. The profile of special moments experienced by the COVID-19 volunteers combined self and client experiences, whereas among Operation Protective Edge volunteers, special moments are reflected mainly in experiences related to the clients and the community.
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COVID-19 , Urgencias Médicas , Despliegue Militar , Pandemias , Voluntarios , COVID-19/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/psicología , Humanos , Israel/epidemiología , Despliegue Militar/psicología , Despliegue Militar/estadística & datos numéricos , Motivación , Pandemias/estadística & datos numéricos , Satisfacción Personal , Voluntarios/psicología , Voluntarios/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Objetivo: Describir la incidencia, la causa, el patrón y el tratamiento de fracturas maxilofaciales en sujetos que solici- taron atención en un Servicio de Urgencias Odontológicas del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron las historias clíni- cas de los individuos que concurrieron al Servicio de Urgencias y Orientación de Pacientes de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (SUyOP) en el período compren- dido entre marzo de 2018 y diciembre de 2019. Se registró la fre- cuencia de consultas vinculadas con diagnóstico de algún tipo de fractura del esqueleto maxilofacial y en el caso de estos pacien- tes, se registraron sexo, edad, etiología, ubicación y tratamiento. Resultados: Durante el periodo evaluado asistieron al SUyOP un total de 13.919 pacientes por algún tipo de urgen- cia odontológica, entre los cuales 47 (0,33%) se presentaron con traumatismos en la región bucomaxilofacial; 39 fueron del sexo masculino (83%). En total fueron diagnosticadas 66 frac- turas. La edad media se extendió entre los 30 y los 51 años. Las fracturas se encontraron con mayor frecuencia en la mandíbu- la (95,45%). La agresión interpersonal fue la principal causa (53,19%). El tratamiento realizado con mayor frecuencia fue el bloqueo intermaxilar en el 57,44% de los pacientes. Conclusión: Las fracturas de maxilar inferior fueron las que se registraron con mayor frecuencia. Si bien estas fracturas no ponen en riesgo la vida del paciente, la falla en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento apropiados puede derivar en la pérdida de fun- ciones del sistema estomatognático, y desarrollar deformidades secundarias que requieren de un tratamiento más complejo (AU)
Aim: To describe the incidence, etiology, pattern and treat- ment of maxillofacial fractures in a dental emergency department of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area. Materials and methods: A study was conducted, re- cording sex, age, etiology, location and treatment of maxillofa- cial fractures in patients who visited the Emergency and Patient Orientation Service of the School of Dentistry of the University of Buenos Aires (SUyOP) from March 2018 to December 2019. Data were obtained from dental medical records. Results: During the evaluated period, a total 13,919 pa- tients visited the SUyOP for dental emergencies, of whom 47 (0.33%) presented with trauma in the oral-maxillofacial region, and 39 were male (83%). Age range was 30 to 51 years. Over- all, 66 fractures were diagnosed. Fractures were most frequent in the mandible (95.45%). Interpersonal aggression was the most prevalent cause (53.19%). The most frequent treatment was inter- maxillary fixation, which was performed in 57.44% of the cases. Conclusion: Fractures of the lower jaw were the most fre- quently reported. Although these fractures are not life-threaten- ing, failure to diagnose and treat them properly can lead to loss of function of the stomatognathic system and development of sec- ondary deformities requiring more complex treatment (AU)
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adolescente , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Orales , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Fracturas Maxilomandibulares/epidemiología , Argentina/epidemiología , Epidemiología Descriptiva , Estudios Transversales , Distribución por Edad y Sexo , Traumatismos Faciales/epidemiología , Fracturas Maxilomandibulares/cirugía , Fracturas Maxilomandibulares/etiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cannabis-related emergency department visits can be an entry point for youths to mental health and substance use care systems. We aimed to examine trends in cannabis-related emergency department visits as a function of youths' age and sex. METHODS: Using administrative data, we examined all visits to emergency departments in Ontario, Canada, from 2003 to 2017, by youth aged 10-24 years (grouped as 10-13, 14-18 and 19-24 yr) to determine trends in cannabis-related emergency department visits. Cannabis-related visits were identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision codes for cannabis poisoning and mental disorders due to cannabinoids. We categorized presentations as "less severe" versus "more severe" using scores assigned by nurses at triage. RESULTS: We examined 14 697 778 emergency department visits. Cannabis-related visits increased from 3.8 per 10 000 youths (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-4.0) in 2003 to 17.9 (95% CI 17.4-18.4) in 2017, a 4.8-fold increase (95% CI 4.4-5.1). Rates increased for both sexes and each age group. Males were more likely to have a visit than females (rate ratios ≥ 1.5 in 2003 and 2017). The number of cannabis-related visits in 2017 was 25.0 per 10 000 (95% CI 24.0-25.9) among youth aged 19-24 years, 21.9 per 10 000 (95% CI 20.9-22.9) among those aged 14-18 years, and 0.8 per 10 000 (95% CI 0.5-1.0) among those aged 10-13 years. In 2017, 88.2% (95% CI 87.3%-89.0%) of cannabis-related visits and 58.1% (95% CI 58.0%-58.2%) of non-cannabis-related visits were triaged as "more severe," (rate ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.50-1.53). Similarly, in 2017, 19.0% (95% CI 18.0%-20.1%) of cannabis-related visits and 5.8% (95% CI 5.7%-5.8%) of non-cannabis-related visits resulted in hospital admission (rate ratio 3.3, 95% CI 3.1-3.5). INTERPRETATION: Rates of cannabis-related emergency department visit by youths aged 10-24 years increased almost fivefold from 2003 to 2017, with increases in visit severity and hospital admissions. These trends describe an emerging public health problem, and research is needed to identify the causes of this increase and the health and social consequences of cannabis-related visits for these youths.
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Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital , Abuso de Marihuana , Trastornos Mentales , Intoxicación , Problemas Sociales , Adolescente , Canadá/epidemiología , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/tendencias , Femenino , Necesidades y Demandas de Servicios de Salud , Humanos , Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades , Masculino , Abuso de Marihuana/complicaciones , Abuso de Marihuana/epidemiología , Abuso de Marihuana/terapia , Trastornos Mentales/epidemiología , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Admisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Intoxicación/epidemiología , Intoxicación/etiología , Intoxicación/terapia , Factores de Riesgo , Problemas Sociales/prevención & control , Problemas Sociales/tendencias , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
No disponible
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Humanos , Ciencias de la Salud , Coronavirus Relacionado al Síndrome Respiratorio Agudo Severo , Urgencias Médicas/epidemiología , Urgencias Médicas/historia , Tsunamis , Pandemias/historia , Capacidad de Reacción , Socorristas , Atención Ambulatoria/organización & administraciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In response to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, routine clinical visits to the ophthalmic emergency department (OED) were deferred, while emergency cases continued to be seen. OBJECTIVES: To assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for ophthalmic emergencies. METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis of patients who presented to the OED during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. The proportions of traumatic, non-traumatic-urgent, and non-traumatic-non-urgent presentations in 2020 were compared to those of the same time period in 2019. Duration of chief complains and best-corrected visual acuity were also assessed. RESULTS: There were 144 OED visits in 2020 compared to 327 OED visits during the same 3-week-period in 2019. Lower mean age of OED patients was present in 2020. Logarithmic expression (LogMAR) best corrected visual acuity (BVCA) was similar in both years. In 2020 there was a reduction in traumatic, non-traumatic-urgent, and non-traumatic-non-urgent cases compared to 2019 (15.4% reduction, P = 0.038; 57.6% reduction, P = 0.002; 74.6% reduction, P = 0.005, respectively). There was a higher proportion of same-day presentations at commencement of symptoms in 2020 compared with 2019 (52.8% vs. 38.8%, respectively P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of OED visits at a tertiary hospital dropped by more than half. Although the drop in visits was mostly due to decrease in non-traumatic-non-urgent cases, there was also decrease in non-traumatic-urgent presentations with possible important visual consequences. Additional studies should elucidate what happened to these patients.