
BMJ Paediatrics Open, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. e002524 - e002524
Published: Sept. 1, 2024
Background Previous research has assessed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health (MH). How changed healthcare resource utilisation for MH conditions was investigated less, however, in particular Italy. Methods Data concerning outpatient visits child and services (CAMHSs), access to emergency departments (EDs), hospital admissions drug prescriptions collected administrative databases Lombardy Region, Italy, adolescents 12–17 years old occurring 2016–2021 period were analysed. Annual monthly prevalence (CAHMS/ED visits/hospital admissions) use psychotropic estimated. A negative binomial regression model used pre-pandemic number prevalent cases by gender. The total (1 March 2020 31 December 2021) predicted from compared with observed cases. Results overall annual rate service slightly increased 2016–2019 (from 63.8‰ 67.8‰), decreased (57.1‰) returned values similar 2016 (64.9‰) following year. 2% relative increase girls, a 10% decrease boys, when comparing 2021 that 2019. Differences between genders particularly evident ED attendance, an observed/predicted ratio 0.81 (95% CI 0.79 0.83) 1.18 1.16 1.20) (0.83 0.82 0.84) 1.24 1.23 1.25), respectively). Conclusions current study confirms during among girls but gender differences emerged pandemic.
Language: Английский