The effect of COVID-19 on emergency department imaging: what can we learn?
Emerg Radiol
; 28(2): 339-347, 2021 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1014151
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department (ED) imaging.METHODS:
This retrospective study included all ED visits at a four-hospital academic health system in two matched 5-week periods. Demographic information, COVID-19 status, and disposition were reviewed. Type of imaging, acquisition time, and radiology reports were analyzed. Significance level was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS:
A 43.2% decrease in ED visits and 12% reduction in overall ED imaging occurred during the pandemic period. Mean age was unchanged, but a shift in gender and racial characteristics was observed (p < 0.001). In the pandemic period, COVID-19 ED patients were older (61.8 ± 16.9 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be Black (64.2%; p < 0.001) than non-COVID-19 patients. Imaging per ED encounter increased to 2.4 ± 2.8 exams from 1.7 ± 1.1 (p < 0.001). Radiography increased (57.2% vs. 52.4%) as a fraction of total ED imaging, while computed tomography (23.4% vs. 27.2%) and ultrasound (8.5% vs. 9.6%) decreased (pre-pandemic vs. pandemic). COVID-19 ED patients underwent CT and US at a lower rate (11.5% and 5.4%) than non-COVID-19 patients (25.4% and 9.1%). The proportion of imaging study reports concluding "no disease" or "no acute disease" decreased from 56.7 to 40.6% (p < 0.001).CONCLUSION:
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in ED visits, a shift in patient demographics, and a significant decrease in imaging volume. Additional impact included a significant increase in the proportion of positive imaging studies.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Diagnostic Imaging
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Emerg Radiol
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10140-020-01889-9
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