Changes to consultations and diagnosis of osteoarthritis in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors' conclusion
We observed 47% reduction in GP consultations for musculoskeletal disorders during the first wave and 9% during the second wave. For hip and knee OA/complaints, the reductions were over 50% during the first, and 10% during the second wave.
Study context
- Population
- Patients over 45 years of age in Dutch primary care, 2015–2020
- Participants
- 118,756 participants
- Exposure
- General practitioners (GP) consultations in 2020 vs 5-year average
- Outcome
- GP consultations for any musculoskeletal complaints, knee and hip OA, knee and hip complaints, and newly diagnosed knee and hip OA/complaints
Methodological detailsprimary care consultation data 2015-2020, 2020 compared with 5-year average
- Primary care consultation data 2015-2020
- 2020 compared with 5-year average
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relative reduction in GP consultations, 2020 vs 5-year average · peak of the first wave
All musculoskeletal consultations, first wave peak
46.7%
95% CI 43.9–49.3%
Hip complaints, first wave peak
61.6%
95% CI 44.7–73.3%
All musculoskeletal consultations, second wave peak
9.3%
95% CI 5.7–12.7%
Knee osteoarthritis (OA), second wave peak
26.6%
95% CI 11.5–39.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Relative reduction in new diagnoses · peak of the first wave
- Knee OA/complaints
- 87.0% (95% CI: 71.5-94.1%)
- Hip OA/complaints
- 70.5% (95% CI: 37.7-86.0%)
- New diagnoses at second wave peak: not statistically significant
Original publication
Changes to consultations and diagnosis of osteoarthritis in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 5 March 2023. doi:10.
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