Trends in coronary calcium score and coronary CT angiography imaging volume during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the delivery of preventative care and management of acute diseases. This study assesses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on coronary calcium score and coronary CT angiography imaging volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institution retrospective review of consecutive patients presenting for coronary calcium score or coronary CT angiography examinations between January 1, 2020 to January 4, 2022 was performed. The weekly volume of calcium score and coronary CT angiogram exams were compared. RESULTS: In total, 1,817 coronary calcium score CT and 5,895 coronary CT angiogram examinations were performed. The average weekly volume of coronary CTA and coronary calcium score CT exams decreased by up to 83% and 100%, respectively, during the COVID-19 peak period compared to baseline (P < 0.0001). The post-COVID recovery through 2020 saw weekly coronary CTA volumes rebound to 86% of baseline (P = 0.024), while coronary calcium score CT volumes remained muted at only a 53% recovery (P < 0.001). In 2021, coronary CTA imaging eclipsed pre-COVID rates (P = 0.012), however coronary calcium score CT volume only reached 67% of baseline (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease in both coronary CTA and coronary calcium score CT volume occurred during the peak-COVID-19 period. In 2020 and 2021, coronary CTA imaging eventually superseded baseline rates, while coronary calcium score CT volumes only reached two thirds of baseline. These findings highlight the importance of resumption of screening exams and should prompt clinicians to be aware of potential undertreatment of patients with coronary artery disease.

Trends in oncological imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic through the vaccination era.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on computed tomography (CT)-based oncologic imaging utilization. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed cancer-related CT scans during four time periods: pre-COVID (1/5/20-3/14/20), COVID peak (3/15/20-5/2/20), post-COVID peak (5/3/20-12/19/20), and vaccination period (12/20/20-10/30/21). We analyzed CTs by imaging indication, setting, and hospital type. Using percentage decrease computation and Student's t-test, we calculated the change in mean number of weekly cancer-related CTs for all periods compared to the baseline pre-COVID period. This study was performed at a single academic medical center and three affiliated hospitals. RESULTS: During the COVID peak, mean CTs decreased (-43.0%, p < 0.001), with CTs for (1) cancer screening, (2) initial workup, (3) cancer follow-up, and (4) scheduled surveillance of previously treated cancer dropping by 81.8%, 56.3%, 31.7%, and 45.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). During the post-COVID peak period, cancer screenings and initial workup CTs did not return to prepandemic imaging volumes (-11.4%, p = 0.028; -20.9%, p = 0.024). The ED saw increases in weekly CTs compared to prepandemic levels (+31.9%, p = 0.008), driven by increases in cancer follow-up CTs (+56.3%, p < 0.001). In the vaccination period, cancer screening CTs did not recover to baseline (-13.5%, p = 0.002) and initial cancer workup CTs doubled (+100.0%, p < 0.001). The ED experienced increased cancer-related CTs (+75.9%, p < 0.001), driven by cancer follow-up CTs (+143.2%, p < 0.001) and initial workups (+46.9%, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The pandemic continues to impact cancer care. We observed significant declines in cancer screening CTs through the end of 2021. Concurrently, we observed a 2× increase in initial cancer workup CTs and a 2.4× increase in cancer follow-up CTs in the ED during the vaccination period, suggesting a boom of new cancers and more cancer examinations associated with emergency level acute care.

Trends in cancer imaging by indication, care setting, and hospital type during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery at four hospitals in Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on computed tomography (CT) imaging of cancer. METHODS: Cancer-related CTs performed at one academic hospital and three affiliated community hospitals in Massachusetts were retrospectively analyzed. Three periods of 2020 were considered as follows: pre-COVID-19 (1/5/20-3/14/20), COVID-19 peak (3/15/20-5/2/20), and post-COVID-19 peak (5/3/20-11/14/20). 15 March 2020 was the day a state of emergency was declared in MA; 3 May 2020 was the day our hospitals resumed to non-urgent imaging. The volumes were assessed by (1) Imaging indication: cancer screening, initial workup, active cancer, and surveillance; (2) Care setting: outpatient and inpatient, ED; (3) Hospital type: quaternary academic center (QAC), university-affiliated community hospital (UACH), and sole community hospitals (SCHs). RESULTS: During the COVID-19 peak, a significant drop in CT volumes was observed (-42.2%, p < 0.0001), with cancer screening, initial workup, active cancer, and cancer surveillance declining by 81.7%, 54.8%, 30.7%, and 44.7%, respectively (p < 0.0001). In the post-COVID-19 peak period, cancer screening and initial workup CTs did not recover (-11.7%, p = 0.037; -20.0%, p = 0.031), especially in the outpatient setting. CT volumes for active cancer recovered, but inconsistently across hospital types: the QAC experienced a 9.4% decline (p = 0.022) and the UACH a 41.5% increase (p < 0.001). Outpatient CTs recovered after the COVID-19 peak, but with a shift in utilization away from the QAC (-8.7%, p = 0.020) toward the UACH (+13.3%, p = 0.013). Inpatient and ED-based oncologic CTs increased post-peak (+20.0%, p = 0.004 and +33.2%, p = 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer imaging was severely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. CTs for cancer screening and initial workup did not recover to pre-COVID-19 levels well into 2020, a finding that suggests more patients with advanced cancers may present in the future. A redistribution of imaging utilization away from the QAC and outpatient settings, toward the community hospitals and inpatient setting/ED was observed.

Increased per-patient imaging utilization in an emergency department setting during COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has resulted in decreases in absolute imaging volumes, however imaging utilization on a per-patient basis has not been reported. Here we compare per-patient imaging utilization, characterized by imaging studies and work relative value units (wRVUs), in an emergency department (ED) during a COVID-19 surge to the same period in 2019. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients presenting to the ED from April 1-May 1, 2020 and 2019. Patients were stratified into three primary subgroups: all patients (n = 9580, n = 5686), patients presenting with respiratory complaints (n = 1373, n = 2193), and patients presenting without respiratory complaints (n = 8207, n = 3493). The primary outcome was imaging studies/patient and wRVU/patient. Secondary analysis was by disposition and COVID status. Comparisons were via the Wilcoxon rank-sum or Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: The total patients, imaging exams, and wRVUs during the 2020 and 2019 periods were 5686 and 9580 (-41%), 6624 and 8765 (-24%), and 4988 and 7818 (-36%), respectively, and the percentage patients receiving any imaging was 67% and 51%, respectively (p < .0001). In 2020 there was a 170% relative increase in patients presenting with respiratory complaints. In 2020, patients without respiratory complaints generated 24% more wRVU/patient (p < .0001) and 33% more studies/patient (p < .0001), highlighted by 38% more CTs/patient. CONCLUSION: We report increased per-patient imaging utilization in an emergency department during COVID-19, particularly in patients without respiratory complaints.

Imaging Volume Trends and Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis Between a Large Urban Academic Hospital and Its Affiliated Imaging Centers.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: While affiliated imaging centers play an important role in healthcare systems, little is known of how their operations are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was to investigate imaging volume trends during the pandemic at our large academic hospital compared to the affiliated imaging centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive retrospective study of imaging volume from an academic hospital (main hospital campus) and its affiliated imaging centers from January 1 through May 21, 2020. Imaging volume assessment was separated into prestate of emergency (SOE) period (before SOE in Massachusetts on March 10, 2020), "post-SOE" period (time after "nonessential" services closure on March 24, 2020), and "transition" period (between pre-SOE and post-SOE). RESULTS: Imaging volume began to decrease on March 11, 2020, after hospital policy to delay nonessential studies. The average weekly imaging volume during the post-SOE period declined by 54% at the main hospital campus and 64% at the affiliated imaging centers. The rate of imaging volume recovery was slower for affiliated imaging centers (slope = 6.95 for weekdays) compared to main hospital campus (slope = 7.18 for weekdays). CT, radiography, and ultrasound exhibited the lowest volume loss, with weekly volume decrease of 41%, 49%, and 53%, respectively, at the main hospital campus, and 43%, 61%, and 60%, respectively, at affiliated imaging centers. Mammography had the greatest volume loss of 92% at both the main hospital campus and affiliated imaging centers. CONCLUSION: Affiliated imaging center volume decreased to a greater degree than the main hospital campus and showed a slower rate of recovery. Furthermore, the trend in imaging volume and recovery were temporally related to public health announcements and COVID-19 cases.

Abdominal Imaging Findings in COVID-19: Preliminary Observations.

Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, a target of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), demonstrates its highest surface expression in the lung, small bowel, and vasculature, suggesting abdominal viscera may be susceptible to injury. Purpose To report abdominal imaging findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Materials and Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, patients consecutively admitted to a single quaternary care center from March 27 to April 10, 2020, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were included. Abdominal imaging studies performed in these patients were reviewed, and salient findings were recorded. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. Univariable analysis and logistic regression were performed. Results A total of 412 patients (average age, 57 years; range, 18 to >90 years; 241 men, 171 women) were evaluated. A total of 224 abdominal imaging studies were performed (radiography, n = 137; US, n = 44; CT, n = 42; MRI, n = 1) in 134 patients (33%). Abdominal imaging was associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03 per year of increase; P = .001) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR, 17.3; P < .001). Bowel-wall abnormalities were seen on 31% of CT images (13 of 42) and were associated with ICU admission (OR, 15.5; P = .01). Bowel findings included pneumatosis or portal venous gas, seen on 20% of CT images obtained in patients in the ICU (four of 20). Surgical correlation (n = 4) revealed unusual yellow discoloration of the bowel (n = 3) and bowel infarction (n = 2). Pathologic findings revealed ischemic enteritis with patchy necrosis and fibrin thrombi in arterioles (n = 2). Right upper quadrant US examinations were mostly performed because of liver laboratory findings (87%, 32 of 37), and 54% (20 of 37) revealed a dilated sludge-filled gallbladder, suggestive of bile stasis. Patients with a cholecystostomy tube placed (n = 4) had negative bacterial cultures. Conclusion Bowel abnormalities and gallbladder bile stasis were common findings on abdominal images of patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Patients who underwent laparotomy often had ischemia, possibly due to small-vessel thrombosis. © RSNA, 2020.