Roberto dell'Omo1, Mariaelena Filippelli1, Gianni Virgili2, Francesco Bandello3, Giuseppe Querques3, Paolo Lanzetta4, Teresio Avitabile5, Francesco Viola6, Michele Reibaldi7, Francesco Semeraro8, Luciano Quaranta9, Stanislao Rizzo10, Edoardo Midena11, Giuseppe Campagna12, Ciro Costagliola1. 1. Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio," University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Medicine - Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele," Catania, Italy. 6. IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Foundation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 7. Eye Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 8. Eye Clinic, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 9. Department of Surgical, Clinical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. 10. Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth-Foundation "Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 11. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. 12. Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To compare the number of eye surgical procedures performed in Italy in the 2 months following the beginning of lockdown (study period) because of COVID-19 epidemic with those performed in the two earlier months of the same year (intra-year control) and in the period of 2019 corresponding to the lockdown (inter-year control). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of surgical procedures carried out at 39 Academic hospitals. A distinction was made between elective and urgent procedures. Intravitreal injections were also considered. Percentages for all surgical procedures and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) events were calculated. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 20,886 versus 55,259 and 56,640 patients underwent surgery during the lockdown versus intra-and inter-year control periods, respectively. During the lockdown, only 70% of patients for whom an operation/intravitreal injection was recommended, finally underwent surgery; the remaining patients did not attend because afraid of getting infected at the hospital (23%), taking public transportation (6.5%), or unavailable swabs (0.5%). Elective surgeries were reduced by 96.2% and 96.4%, urgent surgeries by 49.7% and 50.2%, and intravitreal injections by 48.5% and 48.6% in the lockdown period in comparison to intra-year and inter-year control periods, respectively. IRRs for RRDs during lockdown dropped significantly in comparison with intra- and inter-year control periods (CI: 0.65-0.80 and 0.61-0.75, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: This study provides a quantitative analysis of the reduction of eye surgical procedures performed in Italy because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To compare the number of eye surgical procedures performed in Italy in the 2 months following the beginning of lockdown (study period) because of COVID-19 epidemic with those performed in the two earlier months of the same year (intra-year control) and in the period of 2019 corresponding to the lockdown (inter-year control). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of surgical procedures carried out at 39 Academic hospitals. A distinction was made between elective and urgent procedures. Intravitreal injections were also considered. Percentages for all surgical procedures and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) events were calculated. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 20,886 versus 55,259 and 56,640 patients underwent surgery during the lockdown versus intra-and inter-year control periods, respectively. During the lockdown, only 70% of patients for whom an operation/intravitreal injection was recommended, finally underwent surgery; the remaining patients did not attend because afraid of getting infected at the hospital (23%), taking public transportation (6.5%), or unavailable swabs (0.5%). Elective surgeries were reduced by 96.2% and 96.4%, urgent surgeries by 49.7% and 50.2%, and intravitreal injections by 48.5% and 48.6% in the lockdown period in comparison to intra-year and inter-year control periods, respectively. IRRs for RRDs during lockdown dropped significantly in comparison with intra- and inter-year control periods (CI: 0.65-0.80 and 0.61-0.75, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: This study provides a quantitative analysis of the reduction of eye surgical procedures performed in Italy because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Authors: Daniela Mazzuca; Massimiliano Borselli; Santo Gratteri; Giovanna Zampogna; Alessandro Feola; Marcello Della Corte; Francesca Guarna; Vincenzo Scorcia; Giuseppe Giannaccare Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Emilio Pedrotti; Erika Bonacci; Adriano Fasolo; Arianna De Rossi; Davide Camposampiero; Gary L A Jones; Paolo Bernardi; Flavia Merigo; Diego Ponzin; Giorgio Marchini; Andrea Sbarbati Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2021-12-21
Authors: Rita Mencucci; Michela Cennamo; Diego Ponzin; Federico Genzano Besso; Giulio Pocobelli; Matilde Buzzi; Carlo Nucci; Francesco Aiello Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-03-22