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PANDEMIC-DRIVEN SHIFTS IN OUTPATIENT ENT CARE: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR POST-COVID HEALTHCARE MODELS

Serhan KESKİN 1, MD; Banu ATALAY ERDOĞAN 2, MD; Melis DEMİRAĞ EVMAN 2, MD; Ahmet Can ÇİFTÇİ 2, MD;
1Gebze Fatih Devlet Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz, Kocaeli, Türkiye
2Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Şehir Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented disruptions in outpatient medical services worldwide. This study retrospectively analyzes otolaryngology visit trends during the early phase of the pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, and frames these findings in the context of hybrid healthcare transformation from 2020 to 2025.

Methods: We conducted a comparative review of outpatient visit data from March 10 to May 31 in 2019 and the same period in 2020. Patient demographics and ICD-10 diagnosis codes were evaluated. Chi-square and t-tests were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05).

Results: Outpatient visits dropped by 56.1% in 2020. Allergic rhinitis remained the most common diagnosis but declined by 63.3%. Impacted cerumen rose to second place. The median patient age increased, and gender distribution shifted significantly. Diagnostic patterns varied across age and sex. Procedural and pediatric cases saw the steepest declines.

Conclusion: ENT outpatient care was substantially impacted by the pandemic, but the changes also paved the way for novel care delivery models. The rise of telemedicine and remote diagnostics post-pandemic, particularly from 2021-2025, underscores the need for adaptive hybrid systems that integrate in-person and virtual care. Longitudinal data such as this can inform preparedness for future health crises. Keywords : COVID-19, otolaryngology, telemedicine, outpatient care, hybrid models, pandemic health systems