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A Multicenter Survey on the Trend of Chest Ct Scan Utilization: Tracing the First Footsteps of Covid-19 in Iran Publisher Pubmed



Radmard AR1 ; Gholamrezanezhad A2 ; Montazeri SA3 ; Kasaeian A4 ; Nematollahy N5 ; Langrudi RM6 ; Rashid RJ7 ; Dehghan A8 ; Hekmatnia A9 ; Shakourirad A10 ; Rad MP11 ; Moghadam RN12 ; Sharifian H13 ; Enhesari A14 Show All Authors
Authors
  1. Radmard AR1
  2. Gholamrezanezhad A2
  3. Montazeri SA3
  4. Kasaeian A4
  5. Nematollahy N5
  6. Langrudi RM6
  7. Rashid RJ7
  8. Dehghan A8
  9. Hekmatnia A9
  10. Shakourirad A10
  11. Rad MP11
  12. Moghadam RN12
  13. Sharifian H13
  14. Enhesari A14
  15. Aalinezhad M9
  16. Soufi GJ9
  17. Shakibafard A15
  18. Mohammadzadeh M13
  19. Jalli R8
  20. Bakhshayeshkaram M16
  21. Langroudi TF17
  22. Raoufi M18
  23. Abrishami A19
  24. Dehghan P20
  25. Bahramimotlagh H21
  26. Hashemi H22
  27. Taheri MS23
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Radiology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  3. 3. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, FL, United States
  4. 4. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Radiology, 5 Azar Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
  6. 6. Diagnostic Radiology Department, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  7. 7. Department of Radiology, Imam Reza hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
  8. 8. Department of Radiology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  9. 9. Radiology Department, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  10. 10. Department of Radiology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  11. 11. Department of Radiology, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  12. 12. Department of Radiology, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  13. 13. Department of Radiology, Amir A'lam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  14. 14. Clinical Research Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  15. 15. TABA Medical Imaging Center, Shiraz, Iran
  16. 16. Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  17. 17. Department of Radiology, Shahid Modarres Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  18. 18. Department of Radiology, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  19. 19. Department of Radiology, Shahid Labbafinejad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  20. 20. Department of Radiology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  21. 21. Department of Radiology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  22. 22. Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  23. 23. Department of Radiology, Shohada-E-Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Archives of Iranian Medicine Published:2020


Abstract

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19 in Iran. Objectives: To trace the footsteps of COVID-19 in Iran by exploring the trend in using chest CT scans and its economic impact on radiology departments. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the number of imaging examinations from 33 tertiary radiology departments in 9 large cities of Iran was collected from September 23, 2019 to March 20, 2020 (Months 1 to 6) and the corresponding months in 2018-2019. Results: A 50.2% increase was noted in the chest CT scan utilization in 2019-2020 compared to 2018-2019. This increase was +15%, +15%, +27%, +2%, +1% in Months 1-5 of 2019-2020, respectively. In Month 6 of 2019-2020, a 251% increase in the acquisition of chest CT scans was observed compared to the Month 6 of 2018-2019. Following negative balance of revenue from Month 1 to 5 with respect to the inflation rate, the total income in Month 6 was further 1.5% less than the same Month in 2018-19. Conclusion: The observed peak in chest CT utilization in Month 3 prior to the surge in Month 6 could be explained by the seasonal influenza. However, unawareness about an emerging viral disease, i.e. COVID-19, might have underutilized chest CT in Months 4 and 5 before the official announcement in Month 6. The unbalanced increase in the workload of radiology departments in the shortage of cardiothoracic radiologists with the simultaneous decrease in income initiated a vicious cycle that worsened the economic repercussions of the pandemic. © 2020 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved.