2021 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT I 25 ~60% of US adults delayed or skipped some in-person medical treatments or appointments during the pandemic, particularly Hispanic/Latinx adults (67%) as compared to White and Black adults (59% and 58%, respectively). 6 Concerns about exposure to the virus topped the list of reasons why US adults delayed or avoided in-person healthcare (53%), but many also recognize that this has now led to other health issues, including delayed diagnosis or treatment (18% and 23%, respectively) and worsening of symptoms (17%). 6 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP } HEALTH TRENDS Key insights on current and emerging healthcare issues Particularly during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonemergent ambulatory and outpatient clinic services were limited to preserve healthcare resources for patients who were critically ill with COVID-19. Combined with other restrictions, generalized fear about the risk of contagion, and increased unemployment with loss of healthcare benefits, these limits had multiple unintended consequences, including decreases in screening that have already caused significant delays in diagnoses. As a result, detection and diagnosis are happening at advanced stages rather than during early disease when treatment is most effective. Ultimately, this deferred care may lead to increases in late-stage disease, associated morbidity, and mortality. 5 “ We need to not only resume testing and treatment, but increase them above pre-pandemic levels to identify people who have delayed or skipped healthcare services. For serious and chronic conditions, a screening test is the first, and most critical, step.” Harvey W. Kaufman, MD Senior Medical Director, Head of Health Trends Research The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends ® series of reports are drawn from our billions of data points to provide key insights into current healthcare issues. Health Trends reports in 2020 and 2021have focused on important insights gained during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, including identifying significant declines in routine cancer screenings 1 as well as in recommended screenings for Americans at high risk for other serious medical conditions, including hepatitis C (HCV), 2 sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 3 and diabetes management. 4 Impact of pandemic-delayed testing and treatment TABLE OF CONTENTS 2021 OVERVIEW COVID-19 RESPONSE PROMOTING A HEALTHIER WORLD CREATING AN INSPIRING WORKPLACE BUILDING VALUE REFERENCES