The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Nuclear Medicine Department in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus had a profound impact on healthcare services worldwide, including the field of nuclear medicine. Understanding these effects is essential to optimize service delivery and patient management during future health crises.

This study aimed to assess the trends, demographic patterns, and pandemic-related impacts on diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures over four years at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on four years of data (2019-2022) from the Nuclear Medicine Department at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC). The analysis included inpatients, outpatients, pre-admission, emergency cases, and business center outpatients. All diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures performed during this period were included, while therapeutic procedures were excluded. A total of 24,455 cases were reviewed, ensuring patient privacy through anonymous data collection.

The study revealed a significant gender distribution, with female patients comprising 69.4% of the total sample. The most frequently performed procedure was DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), followed by cardiac procedures and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. Outpatient admissions accounted for 87.0% of the total, while inpatient admissions accounted for 11.5%. The number of outpatient visits decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdown measures and patients' fear of visiting hospitals. Most procedures were conducted post-corona, with pre-corona procedures accounting for 38.6%. The pandemic also disrupted supply chains and distribution channels, impacting the availability of essential tracers like ^99mTc/⁹⁹Mo and ¹³¹I.

The study highlights the significant gender distribution in patient demographics and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nuclear medicine procedures at a single center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The decrease in outpatient visits during the pandemic emphasizes the need for improved healthcare utilization and patient behavior. The disruptions in the supply chain underscore the importance of ensuring a stable and reliable supply of essential tracers during similar health crises.