The impact of COVID-19 in the attendance of patients to the otolaryngology clinic: a retrospective review

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient management at an Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department at a tertiary care center in Southeast Asia. This is a retrospective review. Patient load and diagnosis at the Outpatient Division of the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department were reviewed at the height of the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient-specific data was then compared during the same timeframe one year prior. Patients were then grouped into an additional subspecialty subgroup based upon their diagnosis. Descriptive statistics were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 819 cases were identified in 2019 during the study period. At the peak of the first wave, cases fell to 483, constituting a 41% decrease between the years (p value = 0.083). The largest decrease was in Otology cases with a drop by 53% (p value = 0.047), with the smallest decrease noted in General cases. Laryngology visits overall showed an increase in cases by 41.7%. Moreover, new visits decreased by 35.5%, with the largest decrease in new Laryngology visits and new Head and Neck Oncology cases. New visits for general issues had the smallest drop in patients, decreasing by only 21% (p value = 0.006) CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in overall cases in the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery outpatient department. Thus, in anticipation of future outbreaks, interventions may be tailored according to these trends.