Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
Cholesterol Efflux Assay
Published on: March 6, 2012
Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 and cholesterol testing
Esra D Gumuser1, Sara Haidermota2, Phoebe Finneran2
1Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
Insights
Cholesterol testing declined 39% during COVID-19. Rates dropped significantly during the pandemic's first wave, impacting early testing results.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Public Health and Epidemiology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted routine healthcare, including preventive screenings.
- Understanding the impact on cholesterol testing is crucial for managing cardiovascular risk during public health crises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in cholesterol testing rates among adults aged 40 and older before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To compare cholesterol testing volumes and patient characteristics during different phases of the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of total cholesterol tests in adults ≥40 years old at Mass General Brigham from March-September 2020 versus March-September 2019.
- Paired samples t-test used to compare weekly testing rates between the two periods.
- Secondary analysis of testing volumes and patient demographics in the first versus second half of 2020.
Main Results:
- A 39.2% overall decline in weekly cholesterol testing was observed in 2020 compared to 2019 (6,361 vs. 3,867 tests/week).
- Greatest reductions (up to 92%) occurred during the initial pandemic wave (March-May 2020).
- Individuals tested earlier in 2020 (March-June) had lower total cholesterol levels than those tested later.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol testing rates decreased substantially during the early COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a significant disruption in preventive care.
- Developing strategies to maintain cholesterol testing and management for high-risk individuals is essential, especially during pandemic resurgences.
- Ensuring continued access to preventive screenings is vital until widespread vaccination allows for the resumption of routine healthcare.
Objective:
To characterize trends in cholesterol testing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
We extracted testing for total cholesterol performed in adults ≥40 years old within the Mass General Brigham healthcare system between March and September 2020, as well those performed between March and September 2019 (reference period). Weekly cholesterol testing rates during the 2020 vs. 2019 study periods were compared using the paired samples t-test. Secondary analyses compared testing volumes and patient characteristics during the first vs. second half of the 2020 study period.
Results:
The study sample included 296,599 tests for total cholesterol performed in 220,215 individuals. The mean (SD) weekly cholesterol tests performed were 6,361 (682) in 2019 vs. 3,867 (2,373) in 2020 (P = 2.6 × 10-5), representing an overall decline of 39.2%. However, weekly testing rates in 2020 were not uniform. Greatest reductions coincided with the "first wave" of the pandemic (March-May 2020), with up to 92% reductions in testing observed. In the first 14 weeks of each study period (March to mid-June), weekly testing rates were 71.8% lower in 2020. Among individuals tested in 2020, those tested between March and mid-June had substantially lower total cholesterol compared with individuals tested after mid-June (174.2 vs. 181.5 mg/dL, P<2.2 × 10-16).
Conclusions:
In a large integrated healthcare system, cholesterol testing rates were 39% lower between March-September 2020 compared with the same time period in 2019. Mechanisms for safely facilitating cholesterol testing and management for high-risk patients will be important as COVID-19 re-surges across the U.S. until widespread vaccination and population immunity allow resumption of routine preventive care.
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