Complicated Appendicitis in COVID-19 Era

Completed

• Conditions: Complicated Appendicitis; Covid19
• Interventions: Other: impact of COVID-19 on Health-Seeking Behaviors

• Registration Number: NCT05012839
• Lead Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

Brief Summary

Background The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on medical services is overwhelming due to limited medical resources. During its initial surge in 2020, Taiwan's government rapidly established diverse public actions, which helped maintain the medical supply without travel restrictions. However, whether the fear of being infected with COVID-19 interfered with health-seeking behavior (HSB) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate whether acute complicated appendicitis (ACA) rates in adults were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods A retrospective analysis of acute appendicitis in adults was performed between January 1 and June 30, 2020 (COVID-19 period). The control period was collected from the first two quarters for the preceding 3 years. Outcome measures were ACA and length of hospital stays.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2020-06-30
• Status Verified: 2021-08
• Study Completion: 2021-08-14
• Study First Submitted: 2021-08-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-08-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-08-17
• Study First Posted: 2021-08-19
• Last Update Posted: 2021-08-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 465

Inclusion Criteria

• Acute appendicitis

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Exclusion Criteria

• No

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-complicated appendicitis	impact of COVID-19 on Health-Seeking Behaviors	No development of complicated appendicitis, diagnosed during appendectomy or by pre-operative image study
Complicated appendicitis	impact of COVID-19 on Health-Seeking Behaviors	The development of complicated appendicitis, diagnosed during appendectomy or by pre-operative image study

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incidence of complicated appendicitis	baseline, pre-surgery	The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of ACA defined as abscess observed in computed tomography, presence of appendiceal perforation determined by surgical documentation, or a description of gangrenous appendicitis assessed by pathological reports.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Length of hospital stays	up to 4 weeks	the duration of hospital stays after surgery