{Reference Type}: Meta-Analysis
{Title}: Otolaryngologic Presentations to Emergency Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
{Author}: Munhall CC;Shah S;Nguyen SA;Meyer TA;Schlosser RJ;White DR;
{Journal}: Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol
{Volume}: 132
{Issue}: 11
{Year}: Nov 2023 4
{Factor}: 1.973
{DOI}: 10.1177/00034894231165575
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To perform a systematic review of otolaryngologic presentation rates to emergency department settings before and after lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) for studies describing otolaryngologic presentations to emergency department and rapid access clinic settings both in the before-lockdown and after-lockdown periods. The start of after-lockdown period varied based on initiation of lockdown, ranging from March 1st to June 1st of 2020 across general emergency department studies.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A total of 14 studies were included in this review. About 10 were general emergency departments, 3 were specifically pediatric emergency departments, and 1 study focused on the geriatric population (>65 years). A total of 13 790 patients were included, with 9446 in the before-lockdown period (68.5%) and 4344 in the after-lockdown period (31.5%). Meta-analysis of proportions for otolaryngologic presentations across general emergency departments was performed. Comparison of weighted proportions found significant differences between before-lockdown and after-lockdown presentation rates for infectious etiologies, tonsillitis specifically, foreign bodies, non-infectious airway issues, and epistaxis among these studies.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The increased proportions of various non-infectious presentations (eg, epistaxis, foreign bodies, and airway issues) following lockdown might be associated with proportional decreases in infectious pathologies, given decreased social contact to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Overall, it is important for otolaryngologists to recognize what presentations might more commonly be seen and require evaluation and potential intervention in light of a global pandemic.