PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S Michael Crawford AU - Colin Evans AU - Heather Edwards AU - Anna Zoltowski TI - Requests from primary care for chest X-ray and CA125 measurements during the COVID-19 emergency: An observational study AID - 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0638 DP - 2021 Jan 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - e45--e47 VI - 21 IP - 1 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/1/e45.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/1/e45.full SO - Clin Med2021 Jan 01; 21 AB - During the first 3 months of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic developed, it was noticed that requests from primary care for investigations were decreasing, including those that form part of the diagnostic process for cancers. We therefore obtained data on the requests from primary care for chest X-rays (CXRs) and CA125 measurement our hospital received in the first half of 2020 and compared them with 2019. The number of CXRs declined by 93% in April 2020 compared with 2019, with the decline being greater for patient living in outlying areas. Requests from the emergency department also declined. Requests for CA125 measurement similarly fell by 77% from all areas. The requests increased in June, CA125 more than CXR. If this phenomenon is widespread it may have an impact on diagnosis of major conditions, particularly cancers and tuberculosis.