Ophthalmology in China ›› 2022, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1): 45-50.doi: 10.13281/j.cnki.issn.1004-4469.2022.01.008

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Influence of COVID-19 epidemic on the composition of ophthalmic emergency diseases

Qiao Chunyan, Zhang Hui, Li Jian, Wang Qian, Zhang Ju, Hou Fang, Zhang Zheng, Sang Jinghong, Mou Dapeng, Liu Kegao, Cao Kai, You Muxi, Tian Wei, Wei Wenbin, Wang Ningli    

  1. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100730, China
  • Received:2021-09-20 Online:2022-01-25 Published:2022-01-18
  • Contact: Chunyan Qiao, Email: chunyan_qiao@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (81570837)

Abstract: Objective To investigate the diseases composition characteristics of ophthalmic emergency in the strict-controlled initial period (January 23, 2020 to February 23, 2020) and the remission period (October 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020) of COVID-19. Design cross-sectional survey. Participants Consecutive 7741 cases of ophthalmic emergency visits in Beijing Tongren Hospital (including Chongwenmen and Yizhuang District branch) during the strict-controlled initial period and remission period of COVID-19. Methods Collect demographic information, emergency diagnosis, and time of visit from the Hospital Information System (HIS) of Beijing Tongren Hospital. Main Outcome Measures Disease composition ratio. Results In 7741 ophthalmic emergency cases, 5704 cases from the remission period were 2.8 times of the initial period. The majority of cases was 30-39 years old (overall 21.8%, initial 22.6%, remission 21.5%). The patient from remission period were younger (initial 43.0±20.1 years, remission 39.6±21.2 years, P<0.001). This was due to a significant increase in the proportion of patients under 18 (initial 12.3%, remission 19.7%, P<0.001). Ocular surface diseases were the most (overall 43.0%, initial 41.4%, remission 43.6%). The others in order were ocular trauma (overall 29.5%, initial 28.9%, remission 29.7%), eyelid and lacrimal disease (overall 10.3%, initial 9.0%, remission 10.9% ), glaucoma (overall 5.8%, initial 7.8%, remission 5.0%, P<0.001), vitreo-retinal diseases (overall 4.0%, initial 4.9%, remission 3.6%), autoimmune disease (overall 3.0%, initial 4.1%, remission 2.6%). Compared with the remission period, electric ophthalmitis (3.5% vs. 0.7%, P< 0.001) and perforating injuries (2.7% vs. 1.7%, P<0.05) were significantly more, and foreign body injury was significantly less (2.7% vs. 6.2%, P<0.05,) in the initial period. Conclusion The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in a significant decrease in the number of ophthalmic emergency visits. In particular, the visit of children under 18 decreased significantly. Electric ophthalmitis increased, while foreign body injuries reduced during COVID-19 epidemic. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2022, 31: 45-50)

Key words: ophthalmic emergency, COVID-19, disease composition ratio