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KMID : 0361020230660030162
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Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2023 Volume.66 No. 3 p.162 ~ p.169
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Incidence of Upper Respiratory Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Data-Based Epidemiological Study
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Kim Jin-Youp
Kim Su-Hwan
Choi Hye-Ryeong
Hong Min-Ji
Lim Yun-Sung
Yoon Hyung-Jin
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Abstract
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Background and Objectives Nonpharmacologic interventions (NPIs), such as social dis-tancing and preventive measures, were administered during the coronavirus disease (COV-ID-19) pandemic, which may influence the incidence of upper respiratory diseases (URDs).
The present study compared the incidence of URDs during the COVID-19 pandemic and dur-ing the years prior to COVID-19, and investigated the effect of NPIs on URD in the nation-wide general population.
Subjects and Method This is an epidemiologic study based on the Korean National HealthInsurance Database from March 2016 to February 2021. We compared the monthly incidenceof URDs from March 2020 to February 2021 (12 months) with that of the past four years. Anegative binomial regression model was used to evaluate the annual difference in the incidenceof each URD and adjusting temperature, humidity, and the level of particulate matter 10 (PM10).
Results The monthly incidence of ‘the five common URDs’ in 2020 was significantly lowerthan that in the past four years. The incidence of other chronic diseases, however, such as hy-pertension and diabetes mellitus, was comparable or higher in the past four years. Among thefive common URDs, influenza virus infections decreased most dramatically, nearing 99%,from 296.4-377.1 per 100000 people during the period of 2016 to 2019 to 3.7 per 100000 peo-ple in 2020.
Conclusion The present study shows that the incidence of ‘five common URDs’ significantlydecreased during the era of COVID-19 in Korea. We believe that nationwide NPI might preventthe transmission of COVID-19 as well as other infectious sources associated with URDs.
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KEYWORD
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Common cold, COVID-19, Infections, upper respiratory tract, Influenza, human
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