Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency care time during the pandemic compared to the prepandemic period in a private hospital in Mexico City

Ana Belen Landa Patiño; Horacio Silva Ramírez; Mario Enrique Rendón Macías

2026, Number 3

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Acta Med 2026; 24 (3)

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency care time during the pandemic compared to the prepandemic period in a private hospital in Mexico City

Landa PAB, Silva RH, Rendón MME

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How to cite this article

10.35366/123140

Language: Spanish
References: 26
Page: 222-230
PDF size: 866.40 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted emergency department (ED) operations worldwide. The evidence regarding its specific effects on pediatric emergency care in Mexican private hospitals is limited. Objective: to compare pediatric ED care times during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) with the prepandemic period (2019) in a private hospital in Mexico City. Material and methods: a retrospective, observational, and comparative study was conducted using electronic health records of 8,323 pediatric patients (ages 0-18) treated in the ED in 2019 and 2020. Demographic data, clinical diagnoses, triage, and time intervals (nursing care time, physician care time, time between both, and total length of stay) were analyzed. Stratified analyses by month were performed. Results: a 59.9% decrease in ED visits was observed during the pandemic (5,943 vs. 2,380). The sex distribution remained consistent. The proportion of adolescent patients increased. Respiratory diseases declined (21.5 to 11.9%) Neurological and oncological conditions increased. Nursing care time rose significantly (2.12 vs. 4.65 min, p = 0.014), time between providers decreased (6.68 vs. 4.73 min, p = 0.012), and total ED stay increased (142.57 vs. 152.92 min, p ‹ 0.001). The most severe cases showed the largest increases in stay. Conclusion: the pandemic significantly altered pediatric ED consultation patterns and care times, highlighting the need for adaptability while maintaining adequate care.

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