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Rofo 2021; 193(08): 937-946
DOI: 10.1055/a-1368-5047
Health Policy and Evidence Based Medicine

Decreased Medical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Comprehensive Analysis of Radiological Examinations

Veränderungen der medizinischen Versorgung während der COVID-19-Pandemie – eine umfassende Analyse radiologischer Untersuchungen
Florian Nima Fleckenstein 
1   Berlin Institute of Health, BIH, Berlin, Germany
,
Tazio Maleitzke
1   Berlin Institute of Health, BIH, Berlin, Germany
,
Georg Böning 
2   Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
,
Johannes Kahn
2   Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
,
Laura Büttner
2   Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
,
Bernhard Gebauer
2   Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
,
Annette Aigner‡
1   Berlin Institute of Health, BIH, Berlin, Germany
,
Bernd Hamm‡
2   Department of Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Abstract

Objectives As a cross-section discipline within the hospital infrastructure, radiological departments might be able to provide important information regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare. The goal of this study was to quantify changes in medical care during the first wave of the pandemic using radiological examinations as a comprehensive surrogate marker and to determine potential future workload.

Methods A retrospective analysis of all radiological examinations during the first wave of the pandemic was performed. The number of examinations was compared to time-matched control periods. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of radiological examinations attributed to various medical specialties was conducted and postponed examinations were extrapolated to calculate additional workload in the near future.

Results A total of 596,760 examinations were analyzed. Overall case volumes decreased by an average of 41 % during the shutdown compared to the control period. The most affected radiological modalities were sonography (–54 %), X-ray (–47 %) followed by MRI (–42 %). The most affected medical specialty was trauma and orthopedics (–60 % case volume) followed by general surgery (–49 %). Examination numbers increased during the post-shutdown period leading to a predicted additional workload of up to 22 %.

Conclusion This study shows a marked decrease in radiological examinations in total and among several core medical specialties, indicating a significant reduction in medical care during the first COVID-19 shutdown.

Key Points:

  • Number of radiological examinations decreased by 41 % during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Several core medical specialties were heavily affected with a reduction of case volumes up to 60 %.

  • When extrapolating postponed examinations to the near future, the overall workload for radiological departments might increase up to 22 %.

Citation Format

  • Fleckenstein FN, Maleitzke T, Böning G et al. Decreased Medical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Comprehensive Analysis of Radiological Examinations. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2021; 193: 937 – 946

Zusammenfassung

Ziele Radiologische Kliniken sind als Querschnittsfach in der Lage, wichtige Informationen über die Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie auf die Gesundheitsversorgung zu liefern. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, Veränderungen der medizinischen Versorgung während der ersten Pandemiewelle im Frühjahr 2020 mithilfe radiologischer Untersuchungen zu quantifizieren und mögliche zukünftige Mehrbelastungen zu ermitteln.

Methoden Eine retrospektive Analyse aller radiologischen Untersuchungen während der ersten Pandemiewelle wurde mit entsprechenden Kontrollperioden aus den Vorjahren verglichen. Die Analyse erfasste dabei Veränderungen der medizinischen Versorgung innerhalb der Radiologie sowie differenziert nach medizinischen Fachgebieten. Die Anzahl nicht erfolgter Untersuchungen wurde außerdem extrapoliert, um eine potenzielle zukünftige Mehrbelastung bestimmen zu können.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt wurden 596 760 Untersuchungen analysiert. Das Gesamtvolumen aller durchgeführten Untersuchungen verringerte sich während des Shutdowns im Vergleich zum Kontrollzeitraum um durchschnittlich 41 %. Die am stärksten betroffenen radiologischen Modalitäten waren Sonografie (–54 %), Röntgen (–47 %), gefolgt von MRT (–42 %). Untersuchungszahlen der Unfallchirurgie und Orthopädie verzeichneten den stärksten Rückgang (–60 % Fallvolumen), gefolgt von der Allgemeinchirurgie (–49 %). Die Gesamtzahl der Untersuchungen stieg nach dem Shutdown wieder kontinuierlich an. In der Folge könnte das Untersuchungsvolumen in der Zukunft um bis zu 22 % steigen.

Schlussfolgerungen Unsere Studie zeigt eine deutliche Abnahme der radiologischen Untersuchungen insgesamt und für einzelne medizinische Fachdisziplinen während der ersten Pandemiewelle im Frühjahr 2020.

Kernaussagen:

  • Die Anzahl der radiologischen Untersuchungen nahm während der ersten Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie im Frühjahr 2020 um 41 % ab.

  • Für mehrere medizinische Fachdisziplinen wurde ein starker Rückgang der Fallzahlen um bis zu 60 % ermittelt.

  • Durch Extrapolation der nicht erfolgten Untersuchungen in die nahe Zukunft könnte die Arbeitsbelastung für radiologische Kliniken um bis zu 22 % gegenüber den Vorjahreszahlen steigen.

Key words

healthcare - shutdown - SARS-CoV-2 - workload - economics lockdown


Publication History

Received: 20 September 2020

Accepted: 12 January 2021

Article published online:
18 March 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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