Challenges and Opportunities of Community Water Management in the Rural Area of the Upper Basin of River Cauca during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper presents the results of an investigation that aimed to analyze the challenges and opportunities of community water management in the rural area of the Upper Basin of River Cauca during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on collaborative research, the regulatory framework for dealing with the COVID-19 emergency in the water and sanitation sector in Colombia and the problems faced by Community Water and Sanitation Management Organizations (CWSMOs) during the pandemic are analyzed. The main findings are: the regulatory framework issued general guidelines for water service providers, however there were few specific provisions for CWSMOs, ignoring their particularities. The identified problems affected CWSMOs with more than 500 subscribers differently than CWSMOs with under 500 subscribers, with the first group being the most impacted. Likewise, it was concluded that these problems are related to a structural context and not only to the global health emergency. The results of the research show the need to generate a specific public policy for CWSMOs that recognizes their particular characteristics, so that they continue to guarantee access to water in rural and peripheral areas of the country.

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir effectiveness analysis and interaction profile analysis

Background and ImportanceNew drugs have been investigated with the aim of preventing serious pathology in high-risk patients with COVID. As a result, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir emerged, approved by the European Medicines Agency in December 2021 thanks to the pivotal EPIC-HR clinical trial.Aim and ObjectivesTo analyse the effectiveness and pharmacological interaction profile of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in patients diagnosed with SARS-Cov2.Material and MethodsRetrospective study in which patients diagnosed with mild-moderate SARS-Cov2 for whom treatment with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was requested from the approval of the drug until 08/31/2022 were preselected. Patients who received treatment were included. The primary effectiveness endpoint was hospital admission or death from any cause through day 28. As a secondary variable, the profile of pharmacological interactions between nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and the patients‘ medication and its management. Selection of patients, demographic and clinical data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using Excel®16.48.ResultsWe preselected 86 patients, 37 (43.02%) did not receive treatment. The reasons for non-indication were: patients not considered high risk 30/37 (81.08%), receiving oxygen therapy 4/37 (10.82%), >6 days of symptoms, unmanageable interactions and received remdesivir, 1/37 (2.70%) each one. Obtaining a final sample of 49 patients. Mean age was 67.5 years(SD=16) and 25(51.02%) of them were men. Indication's reasons were: high-risk immunocompromised patients 32/49 (65.31%), vaccinated >6 months ago over 80 years with risk factor 14/49 (28.57%), unvaccinated over 80 years 2/49 (4.08%), unvaccinated over 65 years with a risk factor 1/49 (2.04%). Of these, 10/49 (20.41%) required adjustment to renal function. An event (hospital-admission or death) during the 28 days after the start of treatment was registered in 16/49 (32.65%) patients. Of these 14 (28.57%) events were hospital-admission and 2 (4.08%) deaths. We detected 77 interactions in 39/49 (79.59%) patients [2.14 interactions/patient;SD=1.42], that required: to monitor 55/77 (71.43%), suspend treatment and reintroduce it 3 days after 20/77 (25.98%) and reduce dose 2/77 (2.59%). Main therapeutic groups with interactions: statins 14/77 (18.17%), metamizole 9/77 (11.68%), calcium channel blockers 8/77 (10.38%), antidepressants 5/77 (6.49%),opioids 4/77 (5.19%), direct oral anticoagulants 4/77 (5.19%), and tamsulosin 4/77 (5.19%).Conclusion and RelevanceIt seems that real-life results of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir are inferior to those obtained in the pivotal RCT, due to higher number of hospital admissions. Most patients presented interactions, which could be managed in a simple way through temporary suspension and monitoring.References and/or AcknowledgementsConflict of InterestNo conflict of interest

Redefining investable infrastructure in developing nations in a postpandemic era: the case of the 15-Minute City

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led developing nations to increasing debt ceilings, with an inability to invest in infrastructural developments that can benefit communities and societies, in favor of direct economic investment flows. While direct investment flows can lead to increasing employment, they do not have indirect benefits that can increase urban quality of life. An emerging concept of 15-Minute City showcases that how urban regeneration, through the precepts of chrono-urbanism, allows for proximity-based planning principles that increase the sustainability, resilience, and economic prosperity of neighborhoods. The direct beneficiaries of the funding of such a concept lead to higher quality of life, which indirectly can lead to higher economic returns;hence aligning with the precept that funding such programs can lead to higher economic resilience and vibrancy. This chapter explores the need to redefine "investable infrastructure” in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and in a postpandemic era. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Respiratory function in subjects recovered from covid-19 with sarcopenia

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 causes severe complications in subjects with risk factors: advanced age, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, among others. Patients with COVID-19 with severe disease have prolonged hospital stays, which causes dynapenia, muscle depletion, and sarcopenia, this induce a worse disease evolution and poor prognosis. Objective(s): Evaluate lung function in recovered COVID-19 with sarcopenia patients. Method(s): Cross-sectional study. 102 patients recovered from COVID-19 who required hospitalization wereincluded. Lung function was assessed using PIMAX, PEMAX, DLCO2 spirometry. Body composition was evaluated by electrical bioimpedance. Sarcopenia was diagnosed by appendicular muscle mass index (men: <7 kg / m, women <5.5 kg) and hand strength (men <27 kg, women <16 kg). Result(s): The population's average age was 44 years +/- 11.66, 58.88% were men, the subjects with sarcopenia had a higher prevalence of diabetes (26.32% vs 7.81%, p=0.039) hypertension (28.95% vs 12.5%, p = 0.039) compared with those without sarcopenia. Subjects with sarcopenia had worse respiratory parameters of FEV1(2.73lt vs 3.19lt, p=0.003), FEV1 post (2.70lt vs 3.24 lt, p=0.0005), FVC (3.19lt vs 3.9lt, p<0.001), FVCpost (3.22lt vs 3.90lt, p<0.001), FEV1/FVC (81.83 vs 84.17, p=0.040), DLCO (25.21 vs 31.83, p<0.001), and exercise tolerance (464.16 m vs 535.84 m, p<0.001) compared to the subjects withoout sarcopenia. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 recovered patients with a higher amount and sarcopenia developed a worse pulmonary and probably poor prognosis.

Prolonged stay and endothelial dysfunction in hospitalized patients with covid-19

Introduction: COVID-19 is not only a respiratory disease, produces a severe systemic and multi-organ response. This illness generates vascular disorders, leading the patient to endothelial dysfunction. It acutely and chronically affects the patient's evolution, prolonging the patient's stay and worsening life prognosis. Objective(s): To evaluate differences in endothelial dysfunction present in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who had a hospital stay longer than 18 days compared to those who did not. Method(s): A prospective cohort study was conducted. Hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-COV 2 andolder than 18 years were included. Subjects in whom endothelial function markers could not be processed wereexcluded. Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated using E-selectin, endothelin-1, glutathione-s-transferase, arginase, and MDAM. A prolonged hospital stay was established >=18 days. Result(s): A total of 165 patients were evaluated, the average age of the population was 57.18 +/- 13.37 years, 73.33% were men. Subjects with prolonged hospital stay were older (59.38 +/- 12.08 vs 51.15 +/- 14.96, p=0.004), a higher number of patients required intubation (87.60 % vs 75, p=0.049) and e-selectin (1 [0.79 - 1.32] vs 0.88 [0.68 -1.14], p=0.0323) compared to subjects without prolonged hospital stay. Conclusion(s): Hospitalized patients over 18 days showed elevated levels of E-selectin reflecting endothelial damage, affecting vascular homeostasis, added to this, a significant number of them were intubated, increasing the risk of mortality, as well as future cardiovascular complications.

Severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and pneumomediastinum and/or pneumothorax: a prospective observational study in an intermediate respiratory care unit

Introduction: The occurrence of pneumomediastinum (PNMMD) or pneumothorax (PNMTX) was evaluated in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Method(s): This is a prospective observational descriptive study that was carried out on patients admitted to the IRCU of a COVID-19 monographic hospital in Madrid from 14/01/2021 to 27/09/2021. All of them had a diagnosis of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and required NIRS (HFNC, CPAP, BPAP). The incidences of PNMMD and PNMTX, total and according to NIRS, and their impact on the probability of IMV and death were studied. Result(s): (tables 1 and 2) 4.3% (56/1306) developed PNMMD or PNMTX, 3.8% (50) PNMMD, 1.6% (21) PNMTX, and 1.1% (15) PNMMD+PNMTX. 16.1% of patients with PNMMD or PNMTX had HFNC alone (vs 41.7% without PNMMD or PNMTX;p<0.001) and 83.9% CPAP (vs 57.5%;p<0.001). There was a probability of needing IMV of 64.3% among patients with PNMMD or PNMTX (vs 21.0%;p<0.001), and a mortality of 33.9% (vs 10.5%;p<0.001). Conclusion(s): In patients admitted to the IRCU for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who required NIRS, incidences of 3.8% for PNMMD and 1.6% for PNMTX were observed. LDH was a risk factor for developing PNMMD or PNMTX (median 438 vs 395;p=0.013), and PNMMD (median 438 vs 395;p=0.014). The majority of patients with PNMMD or PNMTX had CPAP as the NIRS device, much more frequently than patients without PNMTX or PNMMD. However, the pressures used in CPAP were even lower in patients with PNMMD or PNMTX (median 8 vs 10;p=0.031). The probabilities of IMV and mortality among patients with PNMMD or PNMTX were 64.3% and 33.9%, respectively, higher than in patients without PNMMD or PNMTX, 21.0% and 10.5%.

Clinical Findings and Outcomes from 1306 Patients with Covid-19 Pneumonia in an Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit: A Prospective, Observational Study

Background: An intermediate respiratory care unit (IRCU) may be a valuable tool for optimizing patient care, allowing to implement standardized algorithm management to decrease clinical failure and mortality. We aimed to describe the practice of noninvasive respiratory strategies (NRS) in a novel facility fully dedicated to COVID-19 and to establish outcomes of these patients Methods: Prospective, observational study performed at one hospital in Spain. We included consecutive patients admitted to IRCU due to COVID-19 requiring NRS between December 2020 and September 2021. Data collected included mode and usage of NRS, endotracheal intubation and mortality to day 30. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards method was used to assess risk factors associated with clinical failure and mortality Findings: 1306 patients with COVID-19 were included. Of them, 64.6% were men and mean age was 54.7 years. During IRCU stay, 345 patients presented a clinical failure, (89.6% intubated;14.5% died). Cox model showed a higher clinical failure in IRCU when time between symptoms onset and hospitalization < 10 days (HR 1.59;95% CI 1.24-2.03;p<0.001) and PaO2/FiO2 <100 (HR 1.59;95% CI 1.27-1.98;p<0.001). Conversely, these variables were not associated with an increased mortality to day 30 Interpretation: IRCU may be a useful option for the multidisciplinary management of COVID-19 patients requiring NRS;thus, reducing ICU overcharge. Men gender, gas-exchange and blood chemistry at admission are associated with worse clinical outcomes, while older age, gas-exchange and blood chemistry are associated with 30-day mortality.

Serum markers of endothelial dysfunction and invasive mechanical ventilation in COVID-19

Introduction: Sars-Cov-2 infection induces vascular endothelium damage at pulmonary and systemic level. Alterations on immunity response generate inappropriate endothelial activation through pro-inflammatory cytokines release, up-regulated expression of adhesion molecules, leukocyte migration, increased nitric oxide requirements and oxidative stress. Endothelial function is a key feature in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Objective(s): To evaluate circulating markers associated with endothelial activation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and determine the difference between patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and those who did not. Method(s): Cross-sectional study. Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and >18 years old were included. Patients who did not require hospitalization were excluded. Serum markers of endothelial function were tested during hospitalization and protein adjustment was performed. Result(s): A total of 390 patients were studied, with an average age of 57+/-13 years old. Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation had higher prevalence of diabetes (34.53% vs 11.54%;p=0.020), higher serum nitrite levels (0.028 mmol/L [0.094-0.647] vs 0.07 [0.03-0.24];p=0.003), nitrates (0.363mmol/L [0.100- 0.591] vs 0.130[0.003-0.374];p=0.004) and E-selectin (1.00 ng/mg [0.79-1.32] vs 0.84 [0.55-1.09];p=0.019) when compared to non-IMV patients. Higher levels of nitrites adjusted by proteins were associated with an increased risk for IMV (OR 5.59, CI 95 1.15-27.00, p=0.032). Conclusion(s): Patients with increased nitrites and E-selectin levels had worse endothelial dysfunction and a higher risk for IMV during hospitalization.

Correcting Disparities in Adolescent Access to Medicines by Promoting Age-Inclusive Research

The average time between regulatory approval and labeling of an innovative medicine for adults and children is nearly a decade.1 Often this is the result of poorly integrated adult and pediatric studies within medicines development programs, which consequently leads to prolonged off-label pediatric use. Furthermore, the conduct of studies in children after adult market approval becomes difficult if not impossible. Experiences during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have heightened awareness of this disparity. The fact that most children have been less severely affected by COVID-19 combined with reluctance to include children in early phases of investigational research has contributed to delays in evaluation of potential treatments for those children who present with more severe forms of the disease.2 Our study sought to understand how adolescent inclusion in adult trials is positioned in regulatory guidance since such documents set critical expectations for trial design and regulatory decision-making for innovative medicines. The authors conducted multiple sequential PubMed searches in November 2019 (and repeated in August 2021) utilizing a variety of grouped search terms-including ''pediatric,'' ''paediatric,'' ''adolescent,'' ''adolescence,'' ''regulatory guidance,'' ''guidance,'' ''FDA guidance,'' ''regulatory guideline,'' ''guideline,'' ''EMA guideline,'' and/or ''meta-analysis.'' The searches failed to return any results showing that an analysis of regional regulatory guidance specific to age-inclusive research has been published. It is our understanding that this study represents the first comprehensive analysis of age-inclusive language within regulatory guidance for two globally important health agencies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The study utilized a qualitative analysis approach to review FDA and EMA regulatory guidance documents assessing their recommendations about adolescent inclusion in clinical trials. The study found that regulatory guidance contained recommendations supporting adolescent inclusion in 32% of FDA and 15% of EMA documents, while 14% and 21%, respectively, were found to be exclusionary. In both regions, more than half of all guidance documents were silent regarding the applicability of adolescentinclusive trial methodologies. Analysis by therapeutic area revealed FDA guidance for infectious diseases and EMA guidance for conditions requiring blood products was the most permissive. A more inclusive approach was identified to disease guidance published by the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence. Our study has identified important opportunities for enhancement of regulatory guidance which, if addressed, can facilitate inclusion of adolescent patients in adult trials to accelerate adolescent access to life-changing medicines. Regulatory guidance plays a critical role in improving the type and the quality of data generated in clinical trials which inform medicines use in diverse patient populations. As pediatric policy reforms have led to significant experience with pediatric medicines development, this should be leveraged to update existing regulatory guidance, fostering scientifically justified inclusion of adolescents in adult clinical trials.

Impact of endothelial function on the prognosis of COVID19 patients

Introduction: The pathophysiological mechanisms related to the severity of the clinical picture of Sars-Cov-2 infection remain questions that the medical community seeks to resolve and whose knowledge will allow the design of therapeutic strategies. Purpose(s): To evaluate the association between endothelial function and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Material(s) and Method(s): Prospective cohort study. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, who required hospitalization, oxygen saturation <60% and laboratory data of endothelial function markers were included;all those with incomplete data were excluded. Result(s): The age of the population was 57.06 +/- 13.405, 69% were intubated, those who died had poorer ventilatory parameters;peak pressure (30.06 +/- 6.13 vs 24.82 +/- 6.06, p<0.001), Fi02 (57.5 [40 - 80] vs 45 [40 -80], p <0.001) and PaO2/FiO2 calculation (127.84 +/- 50.08 vs 163.36 +/- 45.47, p<0.001). In addition, they had greater laboratory alterations: procalcitonin (0.49 [0.16 - 4] vs. 18 [0.07 - 0.52], p=0.03) and CRP (13.34[7.67 - 19.03] vs 6.69 [2.4 - 15 89], p=0.05), higher levels of clotting times, PT(14.8 [14 - 16.6] vs 14.4 [13.7 -15.6], p=0.5) and INR (1.04 [0.98 - 1.17] vs 1.01 [.95 - 1.1], p=0.05). In blood biometry, higher numbers of leukocytes of (11.3 [8.65 - 14.4] vs. 9.9 [6.7 - 13], p=0.041), neutrophils (8.8 [7.4 - 12.5] vs. 8.1 [4.74 - 11.1], p=0.01) and lower numbers of lymphocytes (. 7 [.40 - 1.1] vs 1.1 [.7 - 1.5], p<0.001) and with significant statistical trend, hemoglobin(11.26 +/- 2.55 vs 12.42 +/- 2.4, p=0.07) compared to surviving subjects. Conclusion(s): Hematological and liver alterations are markers of higher mortality in patients with COVID-19 as an expression of multiorgan disease.

Hematological and hepatic alterations as predictors of mortality in patients hospitalized by SARS-COV-2

Introduction: SARS-COV-2 infection has generated high mortality. Symptomatology manifests in the respiratory, gastrointestinal tract and others, such as the hematopoietic system. Altered cell counts have been observed, such as lymphopenia standing out within hematological disorders. The cytokine storm together with the use of hepatotoxic drugs prolongs the inflammatory process and increases liver damage. Objective(s): To assess hematological and hepatic alterations in patients hospitalized for SARS-COV-2 who survived. Method(s): Cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients > 18 years, with positive test for SARS-COV-2. Serial measurements of hematological and hepatic parameters were carried out during the period of hospitalization. Those who did not require hospitalization were excluded. Result(s): Patients who died were older (62.71+/-13.52 vs 54.34+/-12.43, p=<0.001), required invasive mechanical ventilation (94.6% vs 86 78.9%, p=0.009) with peak pressure (29.27+/-5.26 vs 26.17+/-5.13, p=0.002) and showing decrease in Kirby index (128.39+/-49.14 vs 153.07+/-49.01, p=0.004) unlike those who survived. There was higher mortality in patients with lymphopenia (0.7 [0.45-1.15] vs 1 [0.7-1.5], p=<0.001), anemia (11.38+/-2.54 vs 12.38+/-2.48, p 0.018) and borderline ranges for platelets (265 vs 329, p=0.003) respectively. Regarding the liver profile, those patients who died had lower total proteins (5.38+/-0.81 vs 5.86+/-0.69, p <0.001), albumin (2.41 +/- 0.50 vs 2.83+/-0.49, p <0.001) and direct bilirubin (0.16 [0.1-0.25] vs 0.14 [0.1 - 0.23], p 0.006). Conclusion(s): Hematological and liver alterations are markers of higher mortality in patients with COVID-19 as an expression of multiorgan disease.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population and health care workers.

The Health Sciences Foundation has assembled a multidisciplinary group around a series of questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population and specific groups within that population, particularly healthcare workers. In the general population, the most prevalent mental disorders have been anxiety, sleep disorders and affective disorders, primarily depression. There has been a considerable increase in suicidal behavior, especially in young women and men over 70 years of age. There has been an increase in alcohol abuse and nicotine, cannabis and cocaine use. In contrast, the use of synthetic stimulants during periods of confinement has decreased. With regard to non-substance addictions, gambling was very limited, pornography consumption increased significantly and there was an increase in compulsive shopping and the use of video games. Particularly vulnerable groups include adolescents and patients with autism spectrum disorders. Healthcare workers suffered an increase in depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, especially those who were exposed during the early stages of the pandemic. Female sex, being a nurse, proximity to patients with COVID-19, working in a rural environment and having previous psychiatric or organic illnesses were some of the most frequently repeated factors in various studies in this population group. The media have shown a good degree of knowledge about these problems and have dealt with them frequently and from the point of view of ethics, crisis situations, such as the one experienced, have triggered not only physical but also moral claudications.

The emotional well-being of Long COVID patients in relation to their symptoms, social support and stigmatization in social and health services: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID patients have experienced a decline in their quality of life due to, in part but not wholly, its negative emotional impact. Some of the most prevalent mental health symptoms presented by long COVID patients are anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. As such, the need has arisen to analyze the personal experiences of these patients to understand how they are managing their daily lives while dealing with the condition. The objective of this study is to increase understanding about the emotional well-being of people diagnosed with long COVID. METHODS: A qualitative design was created and carried out using 35 patients, with 17 participants being interviewed individually and 18 of them taking part in two focus groups. The participating patients were recruited in November and December 2021 from Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in the city of Zaragoza (Northern Spain) and from the Association of Long COVID Patients in Aragon. The study topics were emotional well-being, social support networks, and experience of discrimination. All an inductive thematic content analyses were performed iteratively using NVivo software. RESULTS: The Long COVID patients identified low levels of self-perceived well-being due to their persistent symptoms, as well as limitations in their daily lives that had been persistent for many months. Suicidal thoughts were also mentioned by several patients. They referred to anguish and anxiety about the future as well as a fear of reinfection or relapse and returning to work. Many of the participants reported that they have sought the help of a mental health professional. Most participants identified discriminatory situations in health care. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to continue researching the impact that Long COVID has had on mental health, as well as to provide Primary Health Care professionals with evidence that can guide the emotional treatment of these patients.

Association between stress perceived and coping strategies among nursing students in times of COVID-19

Objective: to evaluate the relationship between the stress perceived and the coping strategies used by Nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at a university in Cartagena, Colombia. The sample size was calculated at 302 participants. A survey was applied regarding demographical data, a Stress Coping Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. The tests used in order to calculate the association were Student’s t, ANOVA one-way, Tukey test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: the study included 302 participants (100%), out of which 94% were female, 80.1% were 15-to-24 years old, 82.5% had low socioeconomic level, 73.2% came from urban areas, and 67.9% had a nuclear family. The level of stress among students was moderate, with 19.1 (SD: 4.9) as average, and higher for 15-to-19-year old students (p= 0.01). Coping strategies were significantly different according to gender, age, type of family and environment (rural/urban);no differences were found in terms of socioeconomic level. The stress perceived was directly correlated with the coping strategy of negative self-targeting (r= 0.41;p< 0.001) and open emotional expression (r= 0.38;p< 0.001);and it was negatively correlated with localized problem solving (r= -0.25;p< 0.001);religion (r= -0.26;p< 0.05) and search for social support (r= -0.11;p< 0.05). Conclusion: there is a relationship between the levels ofstress perceived and the use of coping strategies among students. Overall, the search for social support, religion and problem solving will reduce the level of stress perceived by students. © 2022 DAE Editorial, Grupo Paradigma. All rights reserved.

Telephone medical consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico

Background: Telephone consultation has emerged as an alternative method for outpatient medical follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the necessary distancing measures. However, there are multiple factors that the medical team must contend with, which could limit the monitoring of patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the remote medical consultation database of a universitybased oncology referral center in northeast Mexico. The telephone calls were made from the medical center by specialized health personnel. The data obtained correspond to the monitoring conducted over six months. Results: We included 1,140 patients in the analysis, of which 79% were women and 21% were men;the median age was 55 years. All individuals had a pathology-confirmed diagnosis of cancer. The main oncological diagnoses were breast, cervix, and prostate cancer which corresponded to 46, 13, and 7% of the cases, respectively. Ninety-four percent of cases corresponded to cancer surveillance, while the remaining 6% were receiving active oncological treatment, administered orally. Ninety-three percent of the patients were from the city of Monterrey and its metropolitan area, 6% came from the rest of the municipalities of the state of Nuevo Leon, and 1% were from other states of the Mexican Republic. Ninety-eight percent of the patients had a public health insurance as a method of coverage for health services, while 2% received care through private health insurance. At remote follow-up, only 53% of the patients responded to the telephone calls, none of them reported a diagnosis or any symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the 536 patients who had a telephone communication failure, 68% did not respond to the call after 4 attempts, while in 32% of these cases the number provided by the patient was incorrect or non-existent. Conclusions: The high rates of failure to establish telephone communication documented in our population of patients with cancer is a worrying phenomenon. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses worldwide, we must seek to establish measures to optimize logistics for more effective remote communication, to achieve the best possible outcomes.