Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical Findings in Medical Imaging Exams in a Nationwide Israeli Health Organization: Observational Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a major effect on the consumption of health care services. Changes in the use of routine diagnostic exams, increased incidences of postacute COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), and other pandemic-related factors may have influenced detected clinical conditions.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the use of outpatient medical imaging services and clinical findings therein, specifically focusing on the time period after the launch of the Israeli COVID-19 vaccination campaign. In addition, the study tested whether the observed gains in abnormal findings may be linked to PCS or COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

Our data set included 572,480 ambulatory medical imaging patients in a national health organizat

SUBMITTER: Ozery-Flato M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10156149 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature