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Disruption of bone densitometry practice in a Northern Italy Orthopedic Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic
C Messina1,2, A C Buzzoni3, S Gitto4
1IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via Riccardo Galeazzi, 4, 20161, Milan, Italy. carmelo.messina@unimi.it.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted bone densitometry services, reducing dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations by nearly 50%. This decline persisted even after reopening, indicating a slow return to normal osteoporosis testing volumes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant hospital reorganizations to ensure patient and staff safety.
- This led to the cessation of normal outpatient activities, impacting diagnostic services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bone densitometry practice.
- To compare dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing volumes before and during the pandemic in a Northern Italy Orthopedic Hospital.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed DXA examination numbers from January 24th to May 27th, 2020.
- These figures were compared with the corresponding period in 2019 to quantify the pandemic's effect.
Main Results:
- A substantial reduction of 49.9% in DXA examinations was observed in early 2020 compared to 2019.
- No DXA tests were performed in April 2020, and May 2020 saw only a partial resumption with an 84.4% decrease from the previous year.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted daily bone densitometry practice using DXA.
- A persistent reduction in DXA examinations was noted post-reopening, suggesting a prolonged recovery period for normal service levels.
Abstract:
We report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bone densitometry practice in a Northern Italy Orthopedic Hospital, comparing the first 4 months of 2020 with the corresponding period of 2019. COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive effect on the daily practice of bone densitometry (about - 50% of examinations).
Introduction:
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic radically changes hospital organization to guarantee patient and staff safety, with the unavoidable cessation of normal outpatient activities. We report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing in a Northern Italy Orthopedic Hospital.
Methods:
We analyzed the number of DXA examinations performed at our Institution before, during the lockdown, and immediately after outpatient practice reopening (January 24th to May 27th, 2020), comparing them with the corresponding period of 2019.
Results:
The number of DXA examinations showed a tremendous reduction from n = 1247 performed from January to May 2019 to n = 623 of 2020 (- 49.9%). No exams were performed in April 2020 (- 100%). On May 2020, a faint resume was observed, with n = 43 DXA (- 84.4% compared to 2019).
Conclusion:
COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive effect on the daily practice of bone densitometry with DXA. After reopening, we observed a persistence of DXA examination reduction, confirming the fact that returning to normality will probably be a slow process.
