Physicians' Academy for Cardiovascular Education

Lower rate of cholesterol testing during COVID-19 pandemic

Trends in cholesterol testing during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 and cholesterol testing

Literature - Gumuser ED, Haidermota S, Finneran P et al., - Am J Prev Cardiol 2021, doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2021.100152

Introduction and methods

Routine cholesterol screening and surveillance for individuals aged ≥40 years, especially those with established ASCVD, is recommended [1,2]. Data on cholesterol testing since the COVID-19 pandemic are limited. This study analyzed trends in cholesterol testing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from a healthcare system in New England.

This analysis used data of cholesterol and SARS-CoV2 testing performed in hospitals and outpatient centers in New England, USA from the MGB Research Patient Data Registry. Cholesterol testing of adults ≥40 years with ≥1 outpatient visit from March 4, 2020 through September 22, 2020 was compared to cholesterol testing of adults with ≥1 outpatient visit during the corresponding date range in 2019.

Main results

Conclusion

Using data from a large integrated healthcare system in New England, USA, an analysis demonstrated that volume of weekly cholesterol testing was almost 40% less between March-Sept 2020 than the same period in 2019. ‘Mechanisms for safely facilitating cholesterol testing and management for high-risk patients will be important as COVID-19 re-surges’, the authors wrote.

References

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