COVID-19 vaccine rates are likely to rise, but the pandemic has gone nowhere. But it’s not just the virus that persists – many previously infected patients still feel the effects of the disease.
Diagnosing COVID-19-positive patients in the early stages of the pandemic has put a heavy burden on radiology and, according to Lillian Chiu, MD, a radiologist at New York Medical College, if more patients become “distance carriers,” patients who experience long-term symptoms, that the pressure on radiologists and imaging services could increase.
In a poster presented at the 2021 annual virtual meeting of the Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), a team led by Chiu presented how a continuing pandemic could affect radiology and what imaging departments and clinics can do to prepare. .
For more information on the ARRS 2021 annual virtual meeting conference, click here.
The body of knowledge around COVID-19 continues to grow, and last year it already showed that radiology services are essential for proper patient care, the team said.
“Although we continue to know little about this disease and its short- and long-term effects, we expect there will be increased use of radiological imaging studies to help define the complications and long-term sequelae of COVID-19,” they said.
This increase could occur in a variety of areas, including brain and cardiac imaging, as well as studies tracking the complications of lung disease.
COVID-19 “long distance carriers” are largely valuable among recovering patients. Instead of overcoming the classic viral symptoms – cough, shortness of breath and fatigue – within two to six weeks, these individuals have sustained or recurrent symptoms for months. These problems may include those characteristic symptoms, as well as chest and joint pain, arrhythmias, brain fog, headache, loss of taste or smell, and sore throat. The results of an Italian study, they said, showed that 87.4 percent of patients reported at least one persistent symptom.
Most of these patients are over 50 years old and have additional comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, obesity, chronic psychiatric conditions and immunosuppressive diseases, the team said. In many cases, they will need a longer and longer rehabilitation, with up to 50% needing hospitalization. They also have a reduced quality of life accompanied by depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, the team said.
And these problems do not show signs of slowing down.
“The effects we see can only be the tip of the iceberg,” they said.
With the persistent impact on patients comes the potentially persistent impact on radiology. From day one, radiology played a vital role in diagnosing, managing and monitoring patients with COVID-19, and its economic value was substantial. Most outpatient imaging clinics saw their volumes decline by about 50% in March 2020, with mammography and elective services being the hardest hit.
The pandemic has also changed the way radiologists work, with many pivots, to work from home during the outbreak. While this ensured a higher level of safety, the team said, it also created the distance between radiologists and imaging staff.
Even though most healthcare units have pushed to return to providing services in a pre-pandemic way as much as possible, the horizon is not clear. As a result, radiology practices need to be prepared for potential increases in the number of cases and an increase in demand from referring physicians, the team said.
“As cases continue to grow across the country and around the world, the number of long haulers could increase,” they said. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, radiology departments and leaders need to adapt and prepare for the future. Organizations that plan negative scenarios will be able to adapt and recover more easily. ”
In general, Chiu’s team said, these training plans should take into account staff, equipment availability and inter-departmental collaborations. They should also evaluate their cyber security measures and create plans to manage any sudden influx of image volume.
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