Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical practice in endocrine and metabolic diseases in Japan: a nationwide surveillance study conducted by the Japan Endocrine Society

Katsunori Manaka; Sayaka Kato; Ryuichi Sakamoto; Hajime Yamakage; Tsugumi Uema; Shiori Kawai; Megumi Shibata; Izumi Hiratsuka; Sawako Nakachi; Takeshi Onoue; Takefumi Tsuchiya; Michiaki Fukui; Koshi Hashimoto; Atsushi Suzuki; Noriko Makita; Yoshihiro Ogawa; Hiroshi Arima; Noriko Satoh-Asahara; Hiroaki Masuzaki

doi:10.1507/endocrj.EJ23-0671

Endocrine Journal (Mar 2024)

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical practice in endocrine and metabolic diseases in Japan: a nationwide surveillance study conducted by the Japan Endocrine Society

Katsunori Manaka,
Sayaka Kato,
Ryuichi Sakamoto,
Hajime Yamakage,
Tsugumi Uema,
Shiori Kawai,
Megumi Shibata,
Izumi Hiratsuka,
Sawako Nakachi,
Takeshi Onoue,
Takefumi Tsuchiya,
Michiaki Fukui,
Koshi Hashimoto,
Atsushi Suzuki,
Noriko Makita,
Yoshihiro Ogawa,
Hiroshi Arima,
Noriko Satoh-Asahara,
Hiroaki Masuzaki

Affiliations

Katsunori Manaka: Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Sayaka Kato: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension Research, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Hajime Yamakage: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension Research, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan
Tsugumi Uema: Second Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Hematology, Rheumatology), Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Shiori Kawai: Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Hematology, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama 343-8555, Japan
Megumi Shibata: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Fujita Health University, School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Izumi Hiratsuka: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Fujita Health University, School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Sawako Nakachi: Second Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Hematology, Rheumatology), Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Takeshi Onoue: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
Takefumi Tsuchiya: Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Hematology, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama 343-8555, Japan
Michiaki Fukui: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
Koshi Hashimoto: Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Hematology, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama 343-8555, Japan
Atsushi Suzuki: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Fujita Health University, School of Medicine, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Noriko Makita: Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Yoshihiro Ogawa: Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Hiroshi Arima: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
Noriko Satoh-Asahara: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension Research, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan
Hiroaki Masuzaki: Second Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Hematology, Rheumatology), Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.EJ23-0671
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 71, no. 5
pp. 499 – 514

Abstract

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We investigated the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the management of endocrine and metabolic disorders in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional nationwide questionnaire survey targeting board-certified endocrinologists under the auspices of the Japan Endocrine Society. The questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. Out of approximately 2,700 specialists, 528 (19.5%) opted to participate, suggesting a high level of interest in COVID-19 management among endocrinologists. The study found that almost half of participants had encountered cases of endocrine and metabolic disorders following COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Conditions related to thyroid diseases, glucose metabolism disorders/diabetes, and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders were particularly prevalent. Diabetes and obesity were identified as having high rates of severe cases or fatalities due to COVID-19. The study also highlighted challenges in routine diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the potential benefits of combining remote consultations with in-person visits to optimize the frequency of examinations and check-ups during infectious disease outbreak which disrupts access to healthcare providers. The insights obtained from this survey are expected to contribute to ensuring appropriate healthcare provision for patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders by using flexible consultation formats, particularly even in the conditions where medical access may be limited due to future outbreaks of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases.

Published in Endocrine Journal

ISSN: 1348-4540 (Online)
Publisher: The Japan Endocrine Society
Country of publisher: Japan
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology
Website: https://endocrine-j.jp/

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