Abstract
Background: The WHO advised that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on TB services was estimated to be dramatic due to the disruption of TB services. Methods: A retrospective data collection and evaluation was conducted to include all the patients hospitalized for TB at INMI from 9 March to 31 August 2020 (lockdown period and three months thereafter). For the purpose of the study, data from patients hospitalized in the same period of 2019 were also collected. Results: In the period of March–August 2019, 201 patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of TB, while in the same period of 2020, only 115 patients, with a case reduction of 43%. Patients with weight loss, acute respiratory failure, concurrent extrapulmonary TB, and higher Timika radiographic scores were significantly more frequently hospitalized during 2020 vs. 2019. The median patient delay was 75 days (IQR: 40–100) in 2020 compared to 30 days (IQR: 10–60) in 2019 (p < 0.01). Diagnostic delays in 2020 remain significant in the multiple logistic model (AOR = 6.93, 95%CI: 3.9–12.3). Conclusions: Our experience suggests that COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on TB patient care in terms of higher diagnostic delay, reduction in hospitalization, and a greater severity of clinical presentations.
Highlights
Our experience suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on TB patient care in terms of higher diagnostic delay, reduced hospitalization, and increased severity of clinical presentations
It is possible that this is the consequence of COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of TB care services
It should be emphasized that diagnostic delays may produce an increase of M. tuberculosis’ transmission
Summary
COVID-19, as a result of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection, has been the direct cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths in the world [1,2]. The direct and indirect effects of the pandemic, acting through social, economic, environmental and healthcare pathways, can be countless [2]. Prevention and treatment services for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been severely disrupted since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a WHO survey [4]. The WHO advised that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on TB services was estimated to be dramatic due to the disruption of TB services. Conclusions: Our experience suggests that COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on TB patient care in terms of higher diagnostic delay, reduction in hospitalization, and a greater severity of clinical presentations
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