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

Rosi Wang, Charlotte Helf, Linda Tizek, Ruth Neuhauser, Kilian Eyerich, Alexander Zink, Bernadette Eberlein, Tilo Biedermann, Knut Brockow and Alexander Boehner
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Rosi Wang: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Charlotte Helf: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Linda Tizek: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Ruth Neuhauser: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Kilian Eyerich: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Alexander Zink: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Bernadette Eberlein: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Tilo Biedermann: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Knut Brockow: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Alexander Boehner: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-10

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.

Keywords: outpatient care; COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019); SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2); public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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