Biological Sex Inequality in Rheumatology Wait Times During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Main finding · Wait time by biological sex, peri-COVID periodResult — go to the resultDifference 10.03 days 95% CI 6.98–13.09Authors' conclusion
Women and younger patients appear to have been affected by wait time increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study context
- Population
- All patients referred to a rheumatology central triage system, November 2019 to June 2022
- Participants
- 12,817 referrals
- Exposure
- Women vs men; pre-COVID vs peri-COVID period
- Outcome
- Wait time from referral to first rheumatology appointment by biological sex
Methodological detailscentral triage system, electronic medical record data
- Central triage system
- Electronic medical record data
Main finding
Wait time by biological sex, peri-COVID period
Difference
10.03 days
95% CI 6.98–13.09
P < 0.001
Womenvs Men
difference 10.03 days (95% CI 6.98–13.09); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Difference (days) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time by age, peri-COVID period (per 10-year increase in age)Older patients had shorter wait times | −4.64 (−5.49 to −3.78) | |
| −10−505Difference, days (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Difference, days | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Change in wait times, peri-COVID vs pre-COVID periodWait times increased | 24.23 | P < 0.001 |
| Wait time by triage urgency, pre-COVID periodSemiurgent vs Routine · seen sooner | 8.94 (95% CI −15.90 to −1.99) | |
| Wait time by triage urgency, pre-COVID periodUrgent vs Routine · seen sooner | 25.42 (95% CI −50.36 to −0.47) |
Wait time by age, peri-COVID period (per 10-year increase in age)
- Triage urgency continued to be a predictor of wait time (peri-COVID)
Original publication
Biological Sex Inequality in Rheumatology Wait Times During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Rheumatol. Published 15 March 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →