Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays in diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases endemic to southeastern USA

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was marked by an increase in diagnosis and treatment delays for a range of medical conditions. Yet the impact of the pandemic on the management of tick-borne diseases, which frequently manifest as an acute febrile illness similar to COVID-19, has not been well described. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of patients with suspected tick-borne disease attending the University of North Carolina Health facilities, we compared the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment in a “pre-COVID” period (March 2019 to February 2020) and a “post-COVID” period (March 2020 to February 2021). Participants included patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis code of spotted fever group rickettsiosis or ehrlichiosis and a positive Rickettsia rickettsii or Ehrlichia indirect immunofluorescence assay immunoglobulin G antibody test result. Of the 897 patients who had an eligible diagnosis, 240 (26.8%) met the inclusion criteria. The main outcome was time from initial presentation to definitive diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: During the 2-year study period, 126 (52.5%) patients were grouped in the pre-COVID period and 114 (47.5%) were grouped in the post-COVID period; 120 (50.0%) were female; and 139 (57.9%) were aged > 50 years. Comparing the post-COVID to the pre-COVID period, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for delay in treatment > 0 days was 1.81 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–3.07, P = 0.03), and for a treatment delay > 7 days, 1.65 (95% CI 0.94–2.90, P = 0.08). The odds of a delay in diagnosis were similar for patients in the post- and pre-COVID periods, with an aOR of 1.61 (95% CI 0.96–2.72, P = 0.07) for delays > 0 days, and aOR of 1.72 (95% CI 0.99–3.00, P = 0.05) for delays > 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The odds of a delay in treatment > 0 days were significantly higher in the post-COVID period than in the pre-COVID period. However, the odds of a delay in treatment > 7 days, or a delay in diagnosis, were similar between these two periods. Shifts in care-seeking, alternative care delivery models and prioritization of COVID-19 may contribute to diminished timeliness of treatment for patients with tick-borne diseases. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-023-05917-8.