tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Healthcare (Basel)
. 2020 Dec 3;8(4):E534.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare8040534.
Echocardiography Abnormal Findings and Laboratory Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a High Volume Center in New York City
Li Pang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eric P Stahl[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kana Fujikura[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Michelle Chen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Weijia Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ming Zhang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Jeffrey M Levsky[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mark I Travin[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Edwin C Ho[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ythan Goldberg[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Cynthia C Taub[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
(1) Background: This study sought to explore how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the echocardiography (TTE) laboratory operations at a high volume medical center in New York City. Changes in cardiac imaging study volume, turn-around time, and abnormal findings were analyzed and compared to a pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: Volume of all cardiac imaging studies and TTE reports between 11 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 and the same calendar period in 2019 were retrospectively identified and compared. (3) Results: During the pandemic, our center experienced a 46.72% reduction in TTEs, 82.47% reduction in transesophageal echocardiograms, 83.16% reduction in stress echo, 70.32% reduction in nuclear tests, 46.25% reduction in calcium score, 73.91% reduction in coronary computed tomography angiography, and 87.23% reduction in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. TTE findings were overall similar between 2020 and 2019 (all p ≥ 0.05), except for a significantly higher right ventricular systolic pressure in 2020 (39.8 ? 14.2 vs. 34.6 ? 11.2 mmHg, p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Despite encountering an influx of critically ill patients, our hospital center experienced a reduction in the number of cardiac imaging studies, which likely represents a change in both patient mindset and physician management approach.
Keywords: COVID-19; echocardiography; healthcare.
. 2020 Dec 3;8(4):E534.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare8040534.
Echocardiography Abnormal Findings and Laboratory Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a High Volume Center in New York City
Li Pang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eric P Stahl[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kana Fujikura[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Michelle Chen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Weijia Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ming Zhang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Jeffrey M Levsky[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mark I Travin[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Edwin C Ho[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ythan Goldberg[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Cynthia C Taub[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33287257
- DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040534
Abstract
(1) Background: This study sought to explore how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the echocardiography (TTE) laboratory operations at a high volume medical center in New York City. Changes in cardiac imaging study volume, turn-around time, and abnormal findings were analyzed and compared to a pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: Volume of all cardiac imaging studies and TTE reports between 11 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 and the same calendar period in 2019 were retrospectively identified and compared. (3) Results: During the pandemic, our center experienced a 46.72% reduction in TTEs, 82.47% reduction in transesophageal echocardiograms, 83.16% reduction in stress echo, 70.32% reduction in nuclear tests, 46.25% reduction in calcium score, 73.91% reduction in coronary computed tomography angiography, and 87.23% reduction in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. TTE findings were overall similar between 2020 and 2019 (all p ≥ 0.05), except for a significantly higher right ventricular systolic pressure in 2020 (39.8 ? 14.2 vs. 34.6 ? 11.2 mmHg, p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Despite encountering an influx of critically ill patients, our hospital center experienced a reduction in the number of cardiac imaging studies, which likely represents a change in both patient mindset and physician management approach.
Keywords: COVID-19; echocardiography; healthcare.