P-83 Nuclear Medicine Technology Demand Among Adult patients at the University Hospital of the West indies, Jamaica

Methods: This was a non-experimental, retrospective study of NM scans that were completed at the University Hospital of the West Indies on adult patients during the period June 01, 2022 to May 31, 2024. Data that was extracted from daily records included diagnosis on referral, age, sex, radiopharmaceutical, and type of NM scan administered. Descriptive statistics involved the reporting by frequencies and percentages. We looked for significant differences in proportions by sex and age group using chi-square goodness of fit. Statistical significance was considered achieved when p<0.05.

Results: There were a total of 1026 scans for 990 patients with ages recorded in the adult population (≥18 years old): 403 (40.7%) in the 18-59 age range and 587 (59.3%) in the ≥60 age range, of which, 545 (55.1%) were females and 445 (44.9%) were males. There was a significantly greater demand for services from females 60 years and older for cardiac amyloid scans (9, 90%; χ2=6.40, p=0.011), while females 18-59 years were significantly more likely to undergo thyroid scans (30, 71.4%; χ2=7.714, p=0.005) and bone scans (184, 55.4%, χ2=3.904, p=0.048). On the other hand, significantly more males in the 60 and over age group presented for cardiac amyloid (17, 70.8%; χ2 =4.167; p=0.041) and bone scans (270, 83.6%, χ2=145.79, p=0.000).

Conclusion: The study highlights the demand for NM services in a developing country. Age and sex-specific analysis may serve as a tool in the development and sustainability of the NM services at this public sector facility. Cancer related and cardiovascular indications are a top priority, especially among the aging population. The findings may serve to guide future involvements with the International Atomic Energy Agency in building capacity.