Telemonitoring type 1 diabetes patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: was it useful?
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
;
65(1): 105-111, Jan.-Feb. 2021. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1152883
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objectives:
To evaluate the performance of telemonitoring in detecting clinical and psychological needs and adherence to the protective measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to providing remote assistance for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a public university center in Brazil. Subjects andmethods:
Telemonitoring protocol included phone calls and e-mails. Patients were asked to rate COVID-19-like symptoms, psychological symptoms, epidemiological issues, and adherence to diabetes management (insulin, exercise, and diet) using a 0-to-10 scale. An e-mail address and phone number were offered for further contact if needed. Clinical, demographic, and laboratorial data from the consultations before the pandemic were collected from medical records.Results:
Among 321 patients with a previously scheduled consultation over the first 15 weeks of social distancing, 237 (73.8%) could be successfully contacted. Of these, 207 (87.3%) were exclusively evaluated by telemonitoring (190 only by phone or text message and 17 who were also reached by email), and 30 (12.7%) patients attended the consultation for medical reasons detected during the telephone screening. Overall, 44 (18.5%) patients reported COVID-19-like symptoms. One (2.3%) patient was hospitalized and subsequently died. Psychological symptoms were reported by 137 (60.4%) patients and 30 (12.7%) required remote psychological assistance. Appropriate social distancing was performed by 203 (87.9%) patients, and 221 (97.8%) referred use of masks.Conclusions:
Telemonitoring T1D patients during the pandemic helped reduce the need for in-person consultations, detect clinical and psychological needs, and offer support to patients in addition to monitoring suspected COVID-19 cases and the adherence to protective measures.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Telemedicine
/
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Practice guideline
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
Journal subject:
Endocrinology
/
Metabolism
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/BR
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