Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Endoscopy and Colonoscopy Procedures, A Study from Tertiary Care Center Located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Authors

  • Tayyab Saeed Akhter Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • Javerea Zahid Khan Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Imran Department of Biological Sciences, Islamic International University, Islamabad. BreathMAT Lab, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad. Pakistan
  • Shahid Aziz BreathMAT Lab, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Faisal Rasheed BreathMAT Lab, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Umar Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • Hamama-tul-Bushra Khaar Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Keywords:

Colonoscopy, COVID-19, Endoscopy, Mortality, Morbidity

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the services of the endoscopy unit of a tertiary care health center in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: The Center for liver and digestive diseases, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan from February 2019 to February 2020.

Materials and Methods: We divided the data into two time periods; pre-COVID-19 (Feb 2019 to March 2020), and the COVID-19 impacted period (March 2020 to Feb 2021). This study compared the impact of pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 tenure in terms of frequency of endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures.

Results: Approximately, 17.4% (from 3235 to 2280) decrease in endoscopic procedures was noted in COVID-19 impacted period. This change was more pronounced in colonoscopy procedures which were reduced by 23.5% (from 430 to 266). The detection of malignancies and other diseases was also delayed due to the reduction of these procedures.

Conclusion: Our study showed a remarkable reduction in endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures due to COVID-19. However, we suggest that such an impact can also increase morbidity and mortality rates in the future if not dealt with meticulously. Locoregional and international guidelines should be provided to the GI centers dealing with endoscopic procedures during such pandemics in line with real-life evidence.

FUMJ 4(2) : 2022

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Published

2022-11-18

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2022): FUMJ

Section

Original Articles