Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tertiarycare University Dermatology Outpatient Clinic and Dermatology Procedures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33192/Smj.2022.98Keywords:
COVID-19, Dermatology procedure, Dermatology, Outpatient departmentAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the changes in patient characteristics, disease prevalence, and dermatology procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the demographic data, diagnoses, and dermatology procedures of the patients who visited an outpatient dermatology clinic between March 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. Changes in the number of patients, the patterns of diagnosis, and the dermatology procedures were analyzed.
Results: The number of patients decreased at the start of each of the 4 COVID-19 waves that occurred during the study period. Older adults increased their dermatology visits during the pandemic. The skin disease with the highest proportional increase in the frequency of visits was cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The proportion of noncosmetic procedures significantly increased, in contrast to a decrease in the proportion of cosmetic procedures.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected outpatient dermatology by changing the setting and frequency of patient visits to the outpatient clinic, the pattern of the diseases, and the dermatology procedures.
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