Diagnostic Bias in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Series of Short Cases

Zieda, Anete and Sbardella, Silvia and Patel, Malika and Smith, Richard W (2021) Diagnostic Bias in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Series of Short Cases. European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine, 8 (5). pp. 1-3. ISSN ISSN: 2284-2594

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Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems have faced unprecedented pressures. One challenge has been to promptly recognise non-COVID-19 conditions. Cognitive bias due to the availability heuristic may cause difficulties in reaching the correct diagnosis. Confirmation bias may also affect imaging interpretation. We report three cases with an alternative final diagnosis in whom COVID-19 was initially suspected: (a) Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia with unrecognised HIV infection; (b) pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis; and (c) ST elevation myocardial infarction causing acute pulmonary oedema. To help mitigate bias, there is no substitute for thoughtful clinical assessment and critical appraisal when evaluating new information and formulating the differential diagnosis.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: COVID-19, availability heuristic, cognitive bias, diagnostic bias
Subjects: 600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate
600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici)
600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 616 Malattie (classificare qui la Clinica medica, la medicina basata sull'evidenza, la Medicina interna, la Medicina sperimentale)
Depositing User: Marina Spanti
Date Deposited: 19 Jan 2022 17:01
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2022 17:01
URI: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/21250

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