Measuring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diagnostic Delay in Rare Disease
Journals and Articles / by Jo McPherson / 797 views / Popular
Rare diseases are individually rare but collectively common, with a combined prevalence of 3.5–5.9%. A common feature of many diseases is a substantial delay in patients receiving a correct diagnosis; this protracted path to diagnosis is termed ‘the diagnostic odyssey’. During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant concerns have emerged from both clinicians and patients regarding a disproportionate effect of the pandemic on diagnosis and management of rare disease. Such concerns prompted a study to explore this question further, the results of which are presented here:
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