Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41029552›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of emergency medicine2025

Trends in dermatological presentations at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Singapore: a 4-year analysis pre- and during COVID-19.

Ba Loc Nguyen, Yong Jian Cheng, Si Yong Ivan Chua, Choon Chiat Oh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ba Loc NguyenDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0013-422X
Yong Jian ChengDepartment of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, 169608, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6248-9774
Si Yong Ivan ChuaDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2428-2172
Choon Chiat OhDuke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore. oh.choon.chiat@singhealth.com.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4769-8595

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSkin disorders comprise a significant portion of emergency department (ED) visits. Limited dermatology training among junior ED doctors poses challenges, especially during crises like COVID-19, which introduced resource constraints and new viral rash morphologies. This study examines dermatological ED presentations at Singapore General Hospital, comparing pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) trends in diagnosis and disposition patterns. MATERIALS &

methodsA retrospective analysis of de-identified electronic health records (2018-2021) was conducted. Data included patient demographics, diagnosis, and disposition (admission, referral, discharge). Diagnoses were classified into major categories, and statistical analyses were performed using Python 3.12 and chi-squared tests.

resultsAmong 28,621 cases, dermatological presentations declined by 15.6% during COVID-19. Infective conditions remained the most common, with bacterial cellulitis and herpes zoster leading. Inflammatory dermatoses, especially urticaria, atopic, and contact dermatitis, increased during the pandemic. Allergy cases surged in 2021, largely linked to COVID-19 vaccinations. Admissions peaked in 2020, and referrals to dermatologists increased in 2021, while GP referrals declined.

conclusionMajor shifts in dermatological ED trends highlight the impact of PPE usage, vaccinations, and pandemic psychological stressors. Increased admissions and specialist referrals emphasize the need for enhanced dermatology training and resource allocation in emergency medicine for future pandemic preparedness.

Indexed as

COVID-19DermatologyEmergency medicineEpidemiologyHealthcare utilizationInfectious diseasesPublic healthResource allocation

Identifiers

PMID41029552
PMCPMC12482095

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.