Should Covid-19 RT-PCR Test Be Performed Before Elective Cataract Surgery? A study In the Light of Prevalence and Cost Analysis

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to argue the asymptomatic Covid-19 seroprevalence in patients scheduled for elective cataract surgery, to investigate the cost effects of Covid-19 on cataract surgery, and the effects of routinely using the screening test before surgery.Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional and observational study. The study group included 217 patients without any symptoms of Covid-19 who underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) testing for SARS CoV 2 before surgery during the pandemic period and the control group included 200 patients who underwent elective cataract surgery procedure before the Covid-19 pandemic. Their demographic characteristics and the length of hospital stay were recorded. Equipment fees, laboratory fees, drug fees, and hospital service fees were recorded, and cost analysis was made. Seroprevalence of Covid-19 was calculated.Results: The seroprevalence of the asymptomatic Covid-19 infection among all elective cataract surgery patients in our hospital was 1.8%. There was a significant difference between the average cost of the groups (p<0.001).Conclusion: Although the seroprevalence of the disease is very low among asymptomatic patients and the disease increases the cost of the surgery, we think that to identify asymptomatic patients and reduce contagiousness, screening for COVID-19 should continue.