{"id":27193,"date":"2020-11-07T08:04:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-07T08:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=27193"},"modified":"2020-11-07T08:04:21","modified_gmt":"2020-11-07T08:04:21","slug":"preventive-health-care-falls-by-wayside-during-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=27193","title":{"rendered":"Preventive Health Care Falls by Wayside During Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Latest Prevention & Wellness News<\/h3>\n

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\"News<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, Nov. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) \u2013 Americans saw their doctors for preventive and elective care far less often than usual in the first two months of the pandemic shutdown, according to a new study.<\/p>\n

That meant far fewer colonoscopies, mammograms, blood sugar<\/a> tests, vaccines<\/a> for infants and toddlers, MRIs<\/a> and more across the United States, according to RAND, the Santa Monica, Calif.-based nonprofit.<\/p>\n

Though telehealth visits bridged some of the gap, they only replaced about 40% of in-person visits, the researchers said.<\/p>\n

“This adds detailed evidence to the anecdotal reports that Americans quit going to see the doctor when the pandemic shutdown started,” said lead author Christopher Whaley, a policy researcher at RAND.<\/p>\n

“If important visits are only delayed for a few months, there will likely be no harm. But if patients do not get important screenings, there could be long-term negative health consequences,” he said.<\/p>\n

The findings were published online Nov. 5 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>. The report is based on medical records from more than 5 million individuals with private health insurance. The researchers analyzed claims data from 2018 to 2020 from about 200 employers in all 50 states.<\/p>\n

The investigators found that, in 2020, overall health care visits declined by 23% in March and 52% in April.<\/p>\n

During that time, colonoscopies dropped by 70% compared to March and April of 2019. Mammograms were down 67% among women aged 46 to 64.<\/p>\n

Blood sugar<\/a> tests dropped more than 50%, while vaccination of children under age 2 was down 22%. Angioplasty<\/a> procedures to restore blood flow through arteries were down almost 17%. Musculoskeletal surgery, cataract surgery<\/a> and MRIs<\/a> all dropped by 45% or more. The researchers also saw a small drop in chemotherapy<\/a> treatments.<\/p>\n

During the same period, use of prescription drugs<\/a> for asthma<\/a> rose 11%, while use of prescription cholesterol<\/a> and diabetes drugs<\/a> had small decreases, according to the report.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, telemedicine visits skyrocketed, rising more than 4,000% in April 2020 compared to April 2019. But the increase in online appointments replaced only about 40% of the decline in office visits, the team noted in a RAND news release.<\/p>\n

Patients in lower-income or predominantly non-white ZIP codes had an increase in telehealth visits that was about one-third lower than for those in wealthier neighborhoods. The researchers cited this as an example of increasing health care disparities during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

“The extent to which access barriers to telemedicine contribute to lower rates of in-person care deferral, and thus increases in potential exposure to COVID-19<\/a>, should be examined in future work,” Whaley said.<\/p>\n

More information<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> to learn more about the importance of preventive care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SOURCE: RAND, news release, Nov. 5, 2020<\/p>\n

Cara Murez<\/p>\n

\"MedicalNews\"
Copyright \u00a9 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n


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