Initial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Asthma Emergency Department Utilization
Spring in the Northeastern United States usually represents a period of relatively high emergency department (ED) utilization for childhood asthma. Putative drivers of this phenomenon include seasonal allergens and the tail of winter respiratory viruses. The emergence and spread of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in the United States coincided with spring in the Northeastern United States, and many national and international health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were concerned that asthma would be a risk factor for worse outcomes. The impact of the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and institution of social distancing public health measures on health system utilization for childhood asthma has not been described.