The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Lead Screening in a Primary Care Clinic

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted outpatient pediatrics, postponing well-child care to address immediate patient safety concerns. Screening for lead toxicity is a critical component of this care. Children may be at increased risk for lead exposure at home because of social restrictions. We present data on how COVID-19 restrictions have impacted lead screening in a primary care practice.

Method: Lead testing data on 658 children in a primary care practice were analyzed to determine the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on lead screening rates, levels, and deficiencies.

Results: Lead screening significantly decreased during peak restrictions, leading to increased screening deficiencies. Despite this decrease, screening lead levels increased during peak restrictions.

Discussion: These data show how COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted routine care and highlight the importance of continued lead screening in at-risk populations. The electronic medical record can be leveraged to identify deficiencies to be targeted by quality improvement initiatives.