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Editorial
. 2022 Jan 28;2(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s44158-021-00032-5.

The unseen pandemic: treatment delays and loss to follow-up due to fear of COVID

Sharon Einav  1 , James Tankel  2
Affiliations
Editorial

The unseen pandemic: treatment delays and loss to follow-up due to fear of COVID

Sharon Einav et al. J Anesth Analg Crit Care. .

Abstract

Background: Fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 has transformed public interaction with healthcare professionals and hospitals alike. In turn, this has resulted in a collateral impact on patients' health across medical and surgical paradigms. Understanding the causative factors of this fear, and tackling it head on, is vital to return to pre-pandemic levels of healthcare.

Main body: In this editorial, we explore the evidence base behind the fear of healthcare professionals and facilities that has developed during the course of the SARS-CoV-2pandemic. We also reflect on the ways in which these fears have affected the general public. In so doing, we review a recent article from Montalto et al. that has explored fear of SARS-CoV-2 among patients undergoing surgery in Italy.

Conclusion: While fear of SARS-CoV-2 is uncommon among surgical patients, there are still those who delay or avoiding seeking medical care due to fear of transmission. Physicians must lead the fight against this fear in a hope to regain the trust of the public.

Keywords: Infections; Metal disorders; Role; Viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

JT received a travel grant of $4000 from Medtronic and receives ongoing consultancy payments from Google. SE is a Cochrane editor and editor for Intensive Care Medicine, has received funding for travel, given lectures, owns patents with and/or performed consultancy work for Zoll, Medtronic and Diasorin, and has participated in multicenter trials run by Artisanpharma, Eisai and Astra Zeneca.

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