Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-06-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Preventive Cardiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666667721000076 |
| _version_ | 1818661767871463424 |
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| author | Esra D. Gumuser Sara Haidermota Phoebe Finneran Pradeep Natarajan Michael C. Honigberg |
| author_facet | Esra D. Gumuser Sara Haidermota Phoebe Finneran Pradeep Natarajan Michael C. Honigberg |
| author_sort | Esra D. Gumuser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T04:50:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b78e94c1b9094e73860c03cbac7e3bc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6677 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T04:50:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Preventive Cardiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b78e94c1b9094e73860c03cbac7e3bc32022-12-21T22:02:55ZengElsevierAmerican Journal of Preventive Cardiology2666-66772021-06-016100152Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemicEsra D. Gumuser0Sara Haidermota1Phoebe Finneran2Pradeep Natarajan3Michael C. Honigberg4Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesCardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesCardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Program in Medical and Population Genetics and Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesObjective: 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666667721000076Cardiovascular diseasePrimary preventionSecondary preventionRisk factorsLipids and cholesterolCovid-19 |
| spellingShingle | Esra D. Gumuser Sara Haidermota Phoebe Finneran Pradeep Natarajan Michael C. Honigberg Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic American Journal of Preventive Cardiology Cardiovascular disease Primary prevention Secondary prevention Risk factors Lipids and cholesterol Covid-19 |
| title | Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | trends in cholesterol testing during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Cardiovascular disease Primary prevention Secondary prevention Risk factors Lipids and cholesterol Covid-19 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666667721000076 |
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