Decline in Common Illness Diagnoses During COVID-19 Pandemic Could Create Medical Crisis in Alberta, Experts Say

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A lag in health has been created that could persist for years as hospitalizations and diagnoses of other illnesses declined as Albertans focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Hospitalizations for heart problems decreased during the first months of the pandemic, Calgary cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Howlett told Postmedia, citing data from a study focused on Alberta.

When comparing data on Alberta hospital admissions from March 16 to September 23, 2020 with the same period last year, hospitalizations for heart failure decreased from 3.98 percent to 3.78 percent, according to a PLOS study. ONE.

The drop in numbers reflects people putting off medical care for heart conditions, delaying tests and being added to waiting lists for surgery, Howlett said. But he worries that people will die unattended.

“There is a superficial feeling where it is good that there is less cardiovascular hospitalization and less testing,” he said. “But that overlooks the real problem that people are not accessing care. Some will die at home. Those who come to the hospital have a higher mortality rate because they are sicker. “

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Diagnoses of common cancers have also declined, by as much as 8.5 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, due to “barriers to diagnosis,” said Dr. Matthew Parliament, professor of oncology at the Cross Cancer Institute. in Edmonton.

According to data from the Alberta Cancer Registry, Parliament noted that prostate cancer diagnoses fell by 14.1 percent in 2020, breast and colorectal cancer by 11.1 percent, and bladder cancer by 4.5 percent.

“We have not seen a payback period, defined as higher than usual case volumes, representing the patients we expected in 2020,” Parliament said. “The evidence suggests that there remains a cohort of undiagnosed patients.”

Other specialists point out that delays in treating cancers make them more complex in the future.

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, tens of thousands of surgical procedures have been canceled or delayed in Alberta to free up resources to address COVID-19.

Dr. David Keegan, a Calgary family physician, is seeing arrears building up and conditions worsening as a result.

“I had a boy that we confirmed had cancer,” Keegan said. “I understand that it can be surgically corrected, although it is only stage one. Maybe by the time you get to surgery it will be stage two or three? We are condemning thousands of Albertans to more advanced stages of cancer because of the delays. “

Cardiology patients are also at risk for complications from surgical delays, Howlett explained.

“We see our waiting lists grow. Bad things happen to people on waiting lists. If you need open heart surgery and you don’t have it, there is a known risk of heart attacks while you wait. The wait has a psychological cost. It is very stressful and affects your quality of life, “he said.

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Keegan is seeing other delays due to patients delaying visits.

The sprains from three months ago have become more painful. About twice as many pre-COVID patients come to him to keep their blood pressure and diabetes under control.

The intensification of patient needs, compounded by the overwork of medical professionals, does not lead to “anything good.”

“The likely result is that there will be more exhausted physicians, more late care for patients (and) family physicians leaving Alberta,” Keegan said. “The average care needs of Albertans will be worse and more complex for a few years until we catch up with these delayed exams and surgeries.”

Keegan urges Albertans to visit their doctor if something is wrong, not to “sit down” to health problems, and to go to the emergency room if necessary.

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“When people see their doctor, give them a list of their (problems) in advance because sometimes they are connected,” he said. “We can get down to business. Or maybe I can ask my nurse to take care of some of the items ahead of time to be efficient. “

Howlett understands that fear of contracting COVID-19 deters people from visiting medical facilities.

“Even in my clinics, people prefer phone consultations and sometimes they don’t come for checkups, they are less likely to get tested,” he said.

But like Keegan, he said clinics like his are “still open to the public” despite tensions in the healthcare system.

Don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. We want you to come and get the care you need, ”he said.

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