ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Concern has risen about the effects of COVID-19 in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The aim of our study was to determine clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of ILD patients admitted for COVID-19. METHODS: Ancillary analysis of an international, multicenter COVID-19 registry (HOPE: Health Outcome Predictive Evaluation) was performed. The subgroup of ILD patients was selected and compared with the rest of the cohort. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients with ILDs were evaluated. Mean ± SD age was 72.4 ± 13.6 years, and 65.8% were men. ILD patients were older, had more comorbidities, received more home oxygen therapy and more frequently had respiratory failure upon admission than non-ILD patients (all p < 0.05). In laboratory findings, ILD patients more frequently had elevated LDH, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer levels (all p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis showed that chronic kidney disease and respiratory insufficiency on admission were predictors of ventilatory support, and that older age, kidney disease and elevated LDH were predictors of death. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that ILD patients admitted for COVID-19 are older, have more comorbidities, more frequently require ventilatory support and have higher mortality than those without ILDs. Older age, kidney disease and LDH were independent predictors of mortality in this population.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Telehealth has emerged as an alternative to conventional, face-to-face visits, and the COVID pandemic has hastened its introduction. Telephone appointments make use of an easy-to-use and accessible technology. AIM: To investigate the usability of telephone-based telehealth in a women's health outpatient clinic and whether this may be affected by the severity of the COVID pandemic. METHOD: A telephone survey was prepared to explore two usability domains: interaction quality (4 items) and satisfaction, preference and future use (6 items). Women were selected from two periods during the COVID pandemic when the infection rates were high and low. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 106 women (60 when the prevalence of COVID was high, mean age 53.58 years, and 46 when it was low, mean age 48.59 years) out of the 153 women who had a telephone appointment. The severity of the COVID pandemic showed an effect on responses. Women were less enthusiastic about using the telephone during the period of low COVID prevalence, as shown by lower scores on 3 of the 4 items of the first domain [I had enough time; I would have understood better in person; I would have expressed myself better in person (p < 0.001 for comparison between groups on each of the 3 items)], and on 4 of the 6 items in the second domain [satisfied with quality of care (p < 0.001), or with the information received (p = 0.018); use of telephone in future (p < 0.001); preference to try other technologies in future (p < 0.001)]. Overall, women expressed a preference for in-person visits regardless of COVID prevalence rates. CONCLUSION: Telephone calls were a feasible alternative to face-to-face visits in a women's health outpatient clinic, but the pandemic pressure modified usability parameters. Respondents preferred in-person visits at any pandemic stage.