Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine Departments in Africa and Latin America

Cardiovascular testing recovery in Latin America one year into the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of data from an international longitudinal survey

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Latin America (LATAM), significantly disrupting cardiovascular testing. This study evaluated cardiac procedure recovery in LATAM one year after the outbreak.

Methods

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) surveyed 669 centers in 107 countries worldwide, including 135 facilities in 19 LATAM countries, to assess cardiovascular procedure volumes in March 2019, April 2020, and April 2021, and changes in center practices and staffing conditions one year into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

LATAM centers reported a 21 % decrease in procedure volumes in April 2021 from pre-pandemic-baseline, vs. a 0 % change in the rest of the world (RoW), and greater volume reductions for almost all procedure types. Centers in Central America and Mexico reported the largest procedure reductions (47 % reduction) compared to the Caribbean (15 %), and South America (14 %, p = 0.01), and this LATAM region was a significant predictor of lower procedure recovery in multivariable regression. More LATAM centers reported reduced salaries and increased layoffs of clinical staff compared to RoW, and LATAM respondents estimated that half of physician and non-physician staff experienced excess psychological stress related to the pandemic, compared to 25 % and 30 % in RoW (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Cardiovascular testing recovery in LATAM trailed behind RoW for most procedure types, with centers in Central America and Mexico reporting the greatest volume reductions. This study found lasting impacts of COVID-19 on cardiovascular care in LATAM and the need for mental health support for LATAM healthcare workers in current and future pandemics.

Recent advances and impending challenges for the radiopharmaceutical sciences in oncology

This paper is the first of a Series on theranostics that summarises the current landscape of the radiopharmaceutical sciences as they pertain to oncology. In this Series paper, we describe exciting developments in radiochemistry and the production of radionuclides, the development and translation of theranostics, and the application of artificial intelligence to our field. These developments are catalysing growth in the use of radiopharmaceuticals to the benefit of patients worldwide. We also highlight some of the key issues to be addressed in the coming years to realise the full potential of radiopharmaceuticals to treat cancer.

Sleep Quality, Insomnia, and Perceived Stress among Colombian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective  The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a great burden on healthcare workers worldwide. The aim of the present study was to assess sleep quality, insomnia, and perceived stress in healthcare workers of a high complexity hospital located in Bogota, Colombia. Methods  Cross-sectional study in which 1,155 healthcare workers at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá, Colombia were included, between September and October 2020. Using an online-based survey, self-reported variables were assessed including demographics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and 10 item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Associations between these variables were evaluated. Results  Fifty percent of the respondents were between 31 and 45 years old, and 76 percent were women. Most of the surveyed were the nursing staff. Poor sleep quality, insomnia, and high perceived stress was found in 74.9, 12.4, and 13.2%, respectively. Poor sleep quality was predominantly found in females, in the 31 to 45 years old group and in married personnel. Also, poor sleep quality was found in relation to a moderate to high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection by the family of the workers surveyed. Discussion  Poor sleep quality, moderate rates of insomnia, and perceived stress were found among healthcare workers committed to COVID-19 infected patients in Colombia. The identification of workers at greater risk and the implementation of targeted interventions are called upon as the results.

Myocardial perfusion imaging in the era of COVID-19: a systematic review

PURPOSE

As COVID-19 was uncovered, it became evident that specific individuals could experience multi-organ complications for quite a while after infection. Among them, there were several cardiovascular complications. Myocardial perfusion imaging single photon emission computed tomography (MPI SPECT) can be utilized to detect and evaluate cardiac problems regardless of whether COVID caused them. By examining all publications relevant to the impacts of the pandemic on SPECT MPI imaging, we aimed to understand how the COVID pandemic affected different aspects of the MPI, how intense these effects were, and what the consequences were.

METHOD

On the 6th of June, 2022, a four-domain search strategy was developed and implemented by searching the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The retrieved records have been put through two levels of screening. The search for forward and backward citations provided more results.

RESULTS

This study contained 32 papers, divided into the following three categories: 1. Case reports and series; 2. A comparison of the number of MPIs conducted before and after the pandemic; and 3. SPECT MPI findings.

CONCLUSION

We observed through the article review that CT scans performed in combination with MPI are crucial and should be interpreted within the context of COVID, especially during outbreaks. Moreover, we discovered that in the initial months of the pandemic, the number of SPECT MPIs performed globally decreased, with the fall being more significant in some countries, primarily in low- to middle-income regions. Lastly, we found that individuals with a history of COVID-19 may be more prone to having MPIs that demonstrate abnormalities, such as ischemia.

Oncology and cardiology positron emission tomography/computed tomography faced with COVID-19: A review of available literature data

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to significantly change their lifestyles and attitudes, and has greatly burdened healthcare delivery systems worldwide. The redistribution of the medical delivery system to maintain normal medical care while responding generously to COVID-19 is a continuing challenge that weighs heavily on medical institutions. Among imaging modalities, chest X-rays and computed tomography (CT) examinations have clearly made a large contribution to treatment of COVID-19. In contrast, it is difficult to express the standpoint of nuclear medicine examinations in a straightforward manner, as the greatest emphasis in this modality has been on how necessary medical care can continue to be provided. Many clinical reports of nuclear medicine examinations related to COVID-19 have been published, and knowledge continues to accumulate. This review provides a summary of the current state of oncology and cardiology positron emission tomography (PET) examinations related to COVID-19, and includes preparation of the nuclear medicine department, trends in PET examinations, specific imaging findings on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT, imaging of complications of COVID-19, PET tracers other than FDG, and the effects of vaccines on PET imaging findings.