The Impact and Consequences of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on a Single University Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in Germany

Abstract

The pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects health care systems globally and leads to other challenges besides infection and its direct medical consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic on the university dermatology outpatient clinic (UDOC) of the Technical University of Munich, Germany. We analyzed datasets from 2015 until 2020 extracted from the hospital information system database and our documented outpatient files regarding patient numbers, gender, age, and diagnoses. In 2020, case numbers of outpatient care declined significantly (p = 0.021) compared to previous years and was related to the timing of political announcements answering SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Additionally, during calendar week 10 to 15—the peak time of the spread of COVID-19 in Germany—the proportion of patients missing their consultation was significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019 (22.4% vs. 12.4%; p < 0.001). Gender-associated differences regarding absences were not detected, but patients aged 85 years or older were significantly more likely to miss their consultation compared to all other age groups (p = 0.002). Regarding different disease clusters, patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases and infectious and malignant diseases were more likely to miss their consultation (p = 0.006). Noticeably, less patients with malignant diseases, and particularly malignant melanoma, were registered during this pandemic. Our data support the hypothesis that medically constructive prioritization might not be implemented properly by patients themselves. Identifying missed patients and catching up on their medical care apart from COVID-19 will pose an enormous challenge for health care systems globally.

Websearch-Daten als Gesundheitsdaten?

“…1 ). Dies führten die Autoren darauf zurück, dass zur Pandemiezeit weniger Menschen dermatologische Leistungen in Anspruch genommen haben [ 35 ].

…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults: Rapid Review

“…Multiple barriers to care delivery were noted during this time [ 166 ]. For instance, one study reported that older adults were more likely to miss or cancel medical appointments [ 129 ], whereas another reported the opposite [ 60 ]. One study reported that treatment delays and postponed appointments were more common among older adults [ 130 ], whereas another reported this was more commonly observed among younger people [ 40 ].…”

Corona – und kein Ende?

“…Die Auswirkungen dieser über viele Monate andauernden Mangelverwaltung sind in ihrem Ausmaß noch nicht abschließend einzuschätzen. Auffällig war auch, dass viele Patient:innen – offenbar aus Angst vor Ansteckung oder Unsicherheit wegen der allgemeinen politischen Ratlosigkeit im Umgang mit der Corona‐Pandemie – die Krankenhäuser mieden, selbst wenn sie behandlungsbedürftige schwere Hautkrankheiten oder Hauttumoren hatten [1]. Die DDG hat zusammen mit dem BVDD Empfehlungen zum Management von Patienten mit chronischen Hautkrankheiten unter Pandemie‐Bedingungen veröffentlicht, die auch den Umgang mit neu einzuleitenden oder laufenden Systemtherapien beinhalteten [2–4].…”