Reduction in inpatient and severe condition visits for respiratory diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China

•The study observed trends between 2018 and 2021 in hospital visits for respiratory diseases in Wuhan, China.•Hospital visits for respiratory diseases decreased during the COVID lockdown.•After the lockdown, there was a significant and lasting reduction in inpatient and severe visits for respiratory diseases.•Compared to other respiratory diseases, acute lower respiratory infections experienced the largest reductions after lockdown.