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KMID : 1142920210050010011
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Public Health Affairs
2021 Volume.5 No. 1 p.11 ~ p.11
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Changes in Acute Respiratory Infection Before and After COVID-19
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Jung Hye-Min
Chung Seol-Hee
Kim Han-Sang
Kim Hyun-Joo
Kang Eun-Kyo
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Abstract
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Objective: During the outbreak of COVID-19,several coping strategies were implemented including strengthened social distancing, wearing masks and hand hygiene. Thisinfection control method might have been effective for other respiratory infections; however, it had not yet been clearly revealed. Therefore,we investigated whether the incidence of infectious respiratory diseases has reduced after excluding the effect of decreased medical utilization because of COVID-19 control measures.
Design or methods: We used the Korean national claims data and analyzed incidences of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diseases except ARI. The incidence rates of winter 2019 and 2020 were compared.
Results: Excluding ARI,the reduction in overall hospital visits decreased by only 2%; however,the number of visits due to ARI decreased by 13%, and the number of visits due to influenza particularly decreased by 26%.
Conclusions: Using national database, this study confirmed that a significant reduction in ARI, including influenza, occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infection control measures including nationally enforced social distancing may be effective in controlling the transmission of other respiratory infections. Further studies are necessary to clarify the causal relationship.
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KEYWORD
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COVID-19, Prevention & control, Hygiene, Influenza, Pneumonia
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