Impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on emergency transport times for pediatric febrile seizures: A retrospective study

Background

Febrile seizures are a common cause of emergency pediatric transport. Although the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted healthcare systems, including emergency services, its impact on transport times for pediatric febrile seizures remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate how the pandemic affected transport times.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed emergency department visits at our hospital between 2018 and 2022. Patients with febrile seizures in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in 2022 (during the pandemic) were included. Transport times and clinical data were compared between those years. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with longer transport times.

Results

There were 329 and 282 patients in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The median transport time increased significantly from 33 min in 2019 to 39 min in 2022 (p < 0.001). The proportion of cases exceeding 46 min increased from 10 % to 28 %, whereas those exceeding 60 min increased from 1.2 % to 7.4 %. A longer transport time was associated with seizure duration, onset year (2022), and transport from distant areas. Onset in 2022 was identified as an independent factor. Stratified analysis showed significantly longer transport times in adjacent and remote areas during the pandemic no significant difference in transport times near the hospital.

Conclusion

Transport times for pediatric febrile seizures increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more delays of over 60 min, especially in remote areas. These findings highlight the need to strengthen regional emergency transportation systems to reduce time to care, particularly for patients living farther from hospitals.