Are Covid-19 Diagnostic Tests being stopped in the Community? A Study in the Period from October 2022 to March 2024 in a General Medicine Office of Toledo (Spain)
Abstract
Background: Since the disappearance of the health alarm in many countries COVID-19 tests are carried out in health services only in certain situations, so people with symptoms in the community frequently opted to be tested at home, but it has been reported that the demand for tests has dramatically decreased.
Objective: Analyze the rate of COVID-19 tests carried out both in health services and at home by the patient and subsequently communicated to the General Practitioner.
Methodology: An observational, longitudinal, and prospective study of adult patients in general medicine from October 1, 2022, to March 1, 2024
Results: From October 2022 to March 2024 (18 months), 133 COVID-19 tests were recorded on a population of 2,000 people treated in the consultation, both carried out in the health services and in the patient's home and subsequently communicated to the GP. The COVID-19 test rate per semester with respect to the consultation population was progressively lower in a statistically significant way: 2.90% from October 2022 to March 2023, 2.15% from April 2023 to September 2023, and 1.60% from October 2023 to March 2024 (X2= 9.6768; p= .00792). The rate of positive versus negative COVID-19 tests per semester with respect to the total number of tests performed, showed significant differences: (71% positive and 29% negative from October 2022 to March 2023; 81% positive and 19% negative from April 2023 to September 2023; and 47% positive and 53% negative from October 2023 to March 2024; X2= 10.3636. p= .005618).
Conclusion: In the general practice setting in Toledo, Spain, from October 2022 to March 2024, a progressive and significant decrease in the number of COVID-19 tests performed both in health services and at home is observed. However this behavior seems to be supported by a lower positivity rate in the tests carried out. However, this may pose a risk to public health and people's behaviors, in addition to limiting diagnostic capacity.
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