8th Baltic Congress of Radiology

08.10.2022  Tallinn, Estonia

Presentation

Stalker Hall

Title of abstract: O-T7-02 The impact of acquisition parameters on patient dose in digital radiography using an anthropomorphic phantom

Synopsis: The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions have disrupted the provision of health care to patients with both oncological and other chronic diseases. The factors that led to a reduction in patient numbers or services during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed. During the first lockdown there were identified three external factors and two internal: • decisions to suspend / restrict the provision of planed services; • decisions to suspend / restrict the provision of contact consultations; • shortcomings in national legislation; • difficulties in implementing epidemiological requirements at hospital; • problems faced by medical staff due to increased workload forming reserve teams. These factors also remained important during the second lockdown: difficulties due to increased workload, restrictions on the provision of scheduled and contact services, regulatory shortcomings and more difficult/complicated working conditions. The reduction in patient flows was also influenced by transport restrictions and patients' fear of COVID-19. There was a slight decrease in the number of active treatments for oncological diseases, however the number of services provided in a day unit hospital increased. From 2020 November the decrease in services observed again was related to the announced second lock-down in Lithuania and patients’ fear of coronavirus infection. During this period, remote consultations and teleradiology services were actively used. Reductions in diagnostic radiology (−16%) and endoscopy (−29%) procedures were accompanied by a decreased number of patients with ongoing medical (−30%), radiation (−6%) or surgical (−10%) treatment. The changes in the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients were dependent on tumor type and disease stage, showing a rise in advanced disease at diagnosis already during the early period of the first lockdown. The extent of out-patient consultations (−14%) and disease follow-up visits (−16%) was also affected by the pandemic, and only referrals to psychological/psychiatric counselling were increased. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the structure of cancer services by fostering the application of modified systemic anticancer therapy or hypofractionated radiotherapy. The most dramatic drop occurred in the number of patients participating in cancer prevention programs; the loss was 25% for colon cancer and 62% for breast cancer screening. Marked restriction in access to preventive cancer screening and overall reduction of the whole spectrum of cancer services may negatively affect cancer survival measures in the nearest future.

This agenda item is presented in the following session: S4-3 Covid

Plenary session

07.10.2022 16:00 - 17:30