Gonçalo Passos Croca, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, Unidade das Caldas da Rainha, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Catarina Mendonça, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, Unidade das Caldas da Rainha, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Teresa Magalhães, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, Unidade das Caldas da Rainha, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Mariana Viegas, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, Unidade das Caldas da Rainha, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Catarina Gomes, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, Unidade das Caldas da Rainha, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Introduction and Objectives: After the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology and severity of bronchiolitis cases were affected. The aim of our study is to compare pre and postpandemic respiratory support and intensive care transfers in a level two hospital. Methods: A retrospective study of hospitalized patients with bronchiolitis in 2019 (prepandemic period) and 2022 (postpandemic period) in a level two hospital. Results: In 2019, 81 children were admitted for bronchiolitis compared to 101 in 2022. Of these, 56% were boys, with a median age of three months. In 2022, there was a higher need for CPAP (8.9% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.02), mechanical ventilation (2.0% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.65), supplemental oxygen (73.3% vs. 39.5%, p < 0.01) and admission to intensive care (8.9% vs. 2.5%). Discussion: In our postpandemic sample, there was a significantly higher need for oxygen and noninvasive ventilation in hospitalized patients. Our results are similar to those from previous studies in other European countries.
Keywords: Bronchiolitis. Intensive care unit. CPAP ventilation.
