Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Response to radioiodine in male hyperthyroid patients at Tygerberg Hospital

Thesis (MSc (Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology. Nuclear Medicine))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Radioiodine therapy is reputed to yield poorer results in male patients than in females. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 308 patients treated with radioiodine-131 (RAI) for Graves’ disease (n=266, 86.4%), toxic multinodular goitres (n=35, 11.4%) and toxic solitary nodules (n=7, 2.3%). The mean age of the men was 44 ±13.6 years (range 14-77 years). Patients with GD were predominantly in the younger age groups, while those with toxic nodular goitres were in the older range. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients (84.1%) were treated with a single dose of RAI, while 49 (15.9%) required further doses. A second dose had to be administered to 38 patients, while 8 received 3 doses, 2 got 4 doses and 1 patient had 5 doses in all (these included a first dose received prior to referral to our Thyroid Clinic). Cure was determined as euthyroidism or hypothyroidism at the 3-month follow-up visit. The average pre-treatment T4 value was 68.9 ± 31.8 pmol/L (range 5.7 – 155 pmol/L); while the mean Tc-99m pertechnetate uptake value was 15.8 ± 10.9% (range 0.88 - 62.9). Patients with GD presented with more severe hyperthyroidism than the other patients; mean free T4 of 71.9 ± 31.1 pmol/L compared to 51.4 ± 29.9 pmol/L for the TMG group of patients, and 39.6 ± 26.8 pmol/L for the TSN group (ANOVA p<0.0001, confirmed by the Kruskal-Wallis test). Patients with TMG and TSN were treated with higher doses than patients with GD; mean first doses of 349.3 ± 88.5 MBq and 428.1 ± 28.6 MBq respectively, compared to a mean dose of 325.1 ± 69.3 MBq for patients with GD. Treatment with multiple doses of RAI correlated with higher values of T4 and T3 at presentation (p<0.0001). However, none of the baseline variables of age, T4 and T3, and first dose of RAI was significant predictors of free T4 outcome at 3 months. A consistently higher dose was administered to the male patients, compared to female patients of similar age, diagnosis and level of thyrotoxicosis (Tc-99m pertechnetate uptake). Despite this, male patients had similar outcomes as the female patients 3 months after therapy. Our findings lend weight to the theory that male patients are more difficult to treat than their female counterparts, seeing that the former had similar outcomes despite the significantly higher doses of RAI administered to the males.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Radiojodium terapie lewer na bewering swakker resultate in mans as in vroulike pasiënte. Die inligting van 308 pasiënte met Grave se siekte (n=266, 86.4%), toksiese multinodulêre tiroïed (n=35, 11.4%) en enkel toksiese nodules (n=7, 2.3%) wat met radiojodium (I-131) behandel is, is retrospektief nagegaan. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die mans was 44 ±13.6 jaar (reikwydte 14-77 jaar). Die meeste pasiënte met Grave se siekte was in die jonger ouderdomsgroep, terwyl dié met toksiese multinodulêre tiroïed, ouer was. Tweehonderd nege-en-vyftig pasiënte (84.1%) is met ‘n enkel dosis radiojodium behandel, terwyl 49 (15.9%) meer as een dosis benodig het. ‘n Tweede dosis is aan 38 pasiënte gegee, terwyl agt 3 dosisse, twee 4 dosisse en 1 pasiënt 5 dosisse in totaal ontvang het (wat ‘n eerste dosis voor verwysing na die tiroïedkliniek, ingesluit het). Herstel is gedefinieer as eutiroïdisme of hipotiroidisme tydens die drie maande opvolgbesoek. Die gemiddelde T4-waarde voor behandeling was 68.9 ± 31.8 pmol/L (reikwydte 5.7–155 pmol/L); terwyl die gemiddelde Tc-99m pertegnetaatopname 15.8 ± 10.9% (reikwydte 0.88–62.9) was. Pasiënte met Grave se siekte het met erger hipertiroidisme as die ander pasiënte gepresenteer; met ‘n gemiddelde vry T4 van 71.9 ± 31.1 pmol/L vergeleke met 51.4 ± 29.9 pmol/L vir die toksiese multinodulêre tiroïedgroep en 39.6 ± 26.8 pmol/L vir die enkel toksiese nodule groep (ANOVA p<0.0001, bevestig met die Kruskal-Wallistoets). Pasiënte met toksiese multinodulêre tiroïed en enkel toksiese nodule, is met hoër dosisse as dié met Grave se siekte behandel; met ‘n gemiddelde eerste dosis van 349.3 ± 88.5 MBq en 428.1 ± 28.6 MBq onderskeidelik, vergeleke met ‘n gemiddelde dosis van 325.1 ± 69.3 MBq vir pasiënte met Grave se siekte. Behandeling met meer as een dosis radiojodium het gekorreleer met hoër T4- en T3- waardes by (p<0.0001). Geen van die basislyn veranderlikes (ouderdom, T4 en T3, en die eerste dosis radiojodium) was egter ‘n betekenisvolle voorspeller van die vry T4 uitkoms op 3 maande nie. Die dosis wat aan manlike pasiënte toegedien is, was konstant hoër, vergeleke met die vroulike pasiënte van dieselfde ouderdom, diagnose en vlak van tirotoksikose. (Tc-99m pertegnetaatopname). Ongeag hiervan, was die uitkoms by manlike en vroulike pasiënte 3 maande na terapie dieselfde. Ons bevindinge dra by tot die teorie dat manlike pasiënte moeiliker is om te behandel as hul vroulike eweknieë, aangesien mans soortgelyke uitkomste gehad het ten spyte van betekenisvol hoër dosisse radiojodium

Distinguishing between isthmic thyroglossal duct cyst and goitre on nuclear thyroid scan: A case report

Thyroglossal duct cysts, which are the most frequently encountered congenital cervical anomalies in children, occur due to embryologic remnants of the thyroglossal duct. Although diagnosis may be challenging, clinicians can be aided by imaging and fine-needle aspiration biopsies. We describe the clinical management of a two-year-old boy with a thyroglossal duct cyst mimicking a goitre on a pertechnetate thyroid scan.</jats:p

Outcome of Radioiodine Therapy in a West African Population

Hyperthyroidism continues to be a pressing public health concern in West Africa. Its prevalence in Africa has been quoted as 1.2%-9.9%, with Graves' disease as its most common cause. Radioiodine-131 (RAI) therapy of hyperthyroidism recently commenced in two government hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria. This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients treated with RAI for primary hyperthyroidism at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (NCRNM) from 2008-2013, and in the University College Hospital (UCH) from 2006-2013. Cure was defined as euthyroidism or hypothyroidism occurring at 6 months post-RAI. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21 and Epi Info version, categorical data were evaluated with the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. 94 patients were studied, aged 20-74 years; 78 were females, and 16 were males. 38 were Ghanaian and 56 Nigerian. The presence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) made cure less likely (χ2 P = 0.006, odds ratio = 0.118; 95% confidence interval, 0.027-0.518). Other factors assessed proved to be insignificant. Our findings suggest that hyperthyroid patients with TAO will benefit from a higher RAI dose than their counterparts without TAO

Radiation Levels from Toilets Used By Patients Injected with 99mTc-based Radiopharmaceuticals in Ibadan

Objective: The use of radionuclides in patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures presents a special concern on the safety of not only the patients but also of those who come in contact with such patients either at the nuclear medicine centre or at home after discharge from the facility. This has heightened the public concern about nuclear medicine especially in Nigeria where the practice is new. When patients are injected with radioactivity for nuclear medicine procedures they excrete most of the radioactivity via urine even before leaving the nuclear medicine facility. Therefore, we set out to survey the toilets used by these patients in the hospital for radiation levels to know the radiation risk posed by the ‘radioactive urine’ of the patients to the general public and radiation workers respectively. Methods: A portable digital radiation survey meter was used for measurement of radioactivity in toilets used by a total number of 202 patients injected with 99mTc-based radiopharmaceuticals over a period of 60 days for the level of radioactivity. Results: The minimum background radiation level measured was 0.18 µSv/h while the maximum was 0.44 µSv/h and the mean background reading was 0.28 µSv/h. The readings recorded for the male toilets were: 0.1 µSv/h minimum, 5.62 µSv/h maximum with a mean of 0.52 µSv/h while those for the female patients were 0.19 µSv/h minimum, 21.73 µSv/h maximum and a mean of 3.3 µSv/h. Conclusions: In conclusion, the radiation levels from toilets used by patients injected with 99mTc-based radiopharmaceuticals were within reasonable and acceptable limits and do not pose significant radiation risk to others

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures