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The ophthalmic surgical backlog associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based and microsimulation modelling study.
Felfeli, Tina; Ximenes, Raphael; Naimark, David M J; Hooper, Philip L; Campbell, Robert J; El-Defrawy, Sherif R; Sander, Beate.
  • Felfeli T; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • Ximenes R; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • Naimark DMJ; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • Hooper PL; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • Campbell RJ; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • El-Defrawy SR; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
  • Sander B; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (Felfeli), University of Toronto; Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative (Ximenes), University Health Network; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Naimark), Toronto, Ont.; Ivey Eye Institute (Hooper), Western University
CMAJ Open ; 9(4): E1063-E1072, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1534560
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Jurisdictions worldwide ramped down ophthalmic surgeries to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, creating a global surgical backlog. We sought to predict the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the timely delivery of non-emergent ophthalmology sub-specialty surgical care in Ontario.

METHODS:

This is a microsimulation modelling study. We used provincial population-based administrative data from the Wait Time Information System database in Ontario for January 2019 to May 2021 and facility-level data for March 2018 to May 2021 to estimate the backlog size and wait times associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. For the postpandemic recovery phase, we estimated the resources required to clear the backlog of patients accumulated on the wait-list during the pandemic. Outcomes were accrued over a time horizon of 3 years.

RESULTS:

A total of 56 923 patients were on the wait-list in the province of Ontario awaiting non-emergency ophthalmic surgery as of Mar. 15, 2020. The number of non-emergency surgeries performed in the province decreased by 97% in May 2020 and by 80% in May 2021 compared with the same months in 2019. By 2 years and 3 years since the start of the pandemic, the overall estimated number of patients awaiting surgery grew by 129% and 150%, respectively. The estimated mean wait time for patients for all subspecialty surgeries increased to 282 (standard deviation [SD] 91) days in March 2023 compared with 94 (SD 97) days in 2019. The provincial monthly additional resources required to clear the backlog by March 2023 was estimated to be a 34% escalation from the prepandemic volumes (4626 additional surgeries).

INTERPRETATION:

The estimates from this microsimulation modelling study suggest that the magnitude of the ophthalmic surgical backlog from the COVID-19 pandemic has important implications for the recovery phase. This model can be adapted to other jurisdictions to assist with recovery planning for vision-saving surgeries.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: CMAJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: CMAJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article