A Strong Decline in the Incidence of Childhood Otitis Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands
Hullegie, Saskia; Schilder, Anne G.M.; Marchisio, Paola; de Sévaux, Joline L.H.; van der Velden, Alike W.; van de Pol, Alma C.; Boeijen, Josi A.; Platteel, Tamara N.; Torretta, Sara; Damoiseaux, Roger A.M.J.; Venekamp, Roderick P.
(2021) Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, volume 11, pp. 1 - 8
(Article)
Abstract
Introduction: Recent reports have highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of infectious disease illnesses and antibiotic use. This study investigates the effect of the pandemic on childhood incidence of otitis media (OM) and associated antibiotic prescribing in a large primary care-based cohort in the Netherlands. Material
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and Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study using routine health care data from the Julius General Practitioners’ Network (JGPN). All children aged 0-12 registered in 62 practices before the COVID-19 pandemic (1 March 2019 - 29 February 2020) and/or during the pandemic (1 March 2020 - 28 February 2021) were included. Data on acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), ear discharge episodes and associated antibiotic prescriptions were extracted. Incidence rates per 1,000 child years (IR), incidence rate ratios (IRR) and incidence rate differences (IRD) were compared between the two study periods. Results: OM episodes declined considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic: IR pre-COVID-19 vs COVID-19 for AOM 73.7 vs 27.1 [IRR 0.37]; for OME 9.6 vs 4.1 [IRR 0.43]; and for ear discharge 12.6 vs 5.8 [IRR 0.46]. The absolute number of AOM episodes in which oral antibiotics were prescribed declined accordingly (IRD pre-COVID-19 vs COVID-19: -22.4 per 1,000 child years), but the proportion of AOM episodes with antibiotic prescription was similar in both periods (47% vs 46%, respectively). Discussion: GP consultation for AOM, OME and ear discharge declined by 63%, 57% and 54% respectively in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar antibiotic prescription rates before and during the pandemic indicate that the case-mix presenting to primary care did not considerably change. Our data therefore suggest a true decline as a consequence of infection control measures introduced during the pandemic.
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Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use, COVID-19, Child, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Netherlands/epidemiology, Otitis Media/epidemiology, Pandemics, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, otitis media, antibiotic, COVID-19 pandemic, children, incidence, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Observational Study, Journal Article
ISSN: 2235-2988
Publisher: Frontiers Media S. A.
Note: Funding Information: This work is supported by a research grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) [Rational Pharmacotherapy 5th Open Call grant number 84801 5006]. The funder has no role in design, conduct and report this study. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Hullegie, Schilder, Marchisio, de Sévaux, van der Velden, van de Pol, Boeijen, Platteel, Torretta, Damoiseaux and Venekamp.
(Peer reviewed)