The impact of COVID-19 on the activities of a hospital for research and rehabilitation of cleft lip and palate

The Hospital for Research and Rehabilitation of Cleft Lip and Palate – HPRLLP-USP is the leading hospital in palatoplasty and cheiloplasty in Brazil. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this scenario was challenged regarding maintaining its services while protecting patients and healthcare workers from this new disease.
The objective of this retrospective and observational study was to identify the consequences of the pandemic in the surgical and outpatient services of HPRLLP-USP. The samples were obtained from public published data of procedures in the years ranging from 2016 to 2021. The academic data on the number of articles published in this same period was also in the scope of this study.
During the pandemic, a decrease in new medical records was found, as well as medical, dental consultations, hospital admissions and surgeries. There was also a decrease in the use of complementary services as medical imaging, laboratory studies and general implants. A steady number of scientific publishing and postgraduate enrollment was found.
A better understanding of healthcare limitations and restrictions during pandemics are necessary to develop public health actions that may improve health and quality of life of the patients during healthcare threatening crisis.