Effect of COVID-19 on hospital visits and treatments at the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis from 2017 to 2022

Objectives: The research aims to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on hospital visits and treatments at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from 2017 to 2022. Methods: A single group interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was employed to assess the effect of COVID-19. The beginning of the intervention was 8 May, 2021 as the first case reporting period, and there were 312 weeks of study, with 224 weeks before and 88 weeks after the intervention. A total number of hospital admissions (visits and treatments) was defined as a dependent variable. It was calculated weekly and described according to the ICD-10 version. A single ITS analysis was calculated to estimate the changes before and after the COVID-19 period. Results: A total of 844.550 hospital visits and treatments were recorded in the hospital, with a mean of 2.707 visits per week. Before the intervention, the mean weekly visits were 2.918, while after the intervention, they decreased to 2.170 per week. Weekly visits and treatments showed a downward trend, with an overall reduction rate of 25,63%. ITS analysis indicated that a total of weekly hospital visits and treatment started at 2758 (β0=2758,44; 95% CI: 2595 – 2921; p<0,001); and a slightly significant increase every week before the intervention point of 1,42 visits (β1= 1,42; 95% CI: 0,10 – 2,76; p= 0,036). In the first week of intervention (week 225), there was a significant decrease in hospital visits and treatment of 1732,72 (β2 =-1732,72; 95% CI: -2170 – -1294); p<0,001); and followed by a significant increase in annual trends of 17,52 ( 95% CI: 10,64 – 21,39; p<0,001). Conclusions: These findings provided scientific evidence of the significant impact of COVID-19 on the disruption of the provision and access to hospital services for the general population.