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KMID : 0191120220370030020
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Journal of Korean Medical Science
2022 Volume.37 No. 3 p.20 ~ p.20
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Increased Healthcare Delays in Tuberculosis Patients During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
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Min Jin-Soo
Ko You-Sang
Kim Hyung-Woo
Koo Hyeon-Kyoung
Oh Jee-Youn
Jeong Yun-Jeong
Kang Hyeon-Hui
Park Kwang-Joo
Hwang Yong-Il
Kim Jin-Woo
Ahn Joong-Hyun
Jegal Yang-Jin
Kang Ji-Young
Lee Sung-Soon
Park Jae-Seuk
Kim Ju-Sang
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Abstract
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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused disruptions to healthcare systems, consequently endangering tuberculosis (TB) control. We investigated delays in TB treatment among notified patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.
Methods: We systemically collected and analyzed data from the Korea TB cohort database from January to May 2020. Groups were categorized as ‘before-pandemic’ and ‘during-pandemic’ based on TB notification period. Presentation delay was defined as the period between initial onset of symptoms and the first hospital visit, and healthcare delay as the period between the first hospital visit and anti-TB treatment initiation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with delays in TB treatment.
Results: Proportion of presentation delay > 14 days was not significantly different between two groups (48.3% vs. 43.7%, P = 0.067); however, proportion of healthcare delay > 5 days was significantly higher in the during-pandemic group (48.6% vs. 42.3%, P = 0.012). In multivariate analysis, the during-pandemic group was significantly associated with healthcare delay > 5 days (adjusted odds ratio = 0.884, 95% confidence interval = 0.715?1.094).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with healthcare delay of > 5 days in Korea. Public health interventions are necessary to minimize the pandemic’s impact on the national TB control project.
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KEYWORD
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COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Tuberculosis, Healthcare, Diagnosis, Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment
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