Integrating a community-based approach to non-communicable diseases care: a pilot programme in Bangladesh

Background As the threat of non-communicable diseases grows in Bangladesh, BRAC, in partnership with Medtronic, launched a pilot programme in early 2020 to leverage community health workers to improve the health outcomes of patients with hypertension and diabetes. This project builds off of BRAC's existing non-communicable disease programme, established in 2016, but incorporates patient-centred approaches to monitor and improve both patient compliance and outcomes. Methods Activities included BRAC-run non-communicable disease centres to diagnose and treat patients with non-communicable diseases and specially trained community health workers to provide community-level care and strengthen referral linkages with NCD centres. BRAC also worked diligently to adapt its programming to the context of COVID-19, including equipping a subset of enrolled patients with machines to record their blood pressure and blood glucose levels at home with additional supervision by community health workers. Findings Preliminary results were promising—on average, 90% of both home-based and clinic-based patients showed clinical improvements, and 91% were retained in care. About 98% of community health workers had on-time follow-up of patients with non-communicable diseases, showing routine compliance of care at the household level. Interpretation Despite the pandemic, community health workers proved to be an effective tool in chronic disease management because the community trusts them and is receptive to their guidance, empowering health workers to deliver non-communicable disease care and promote lifestyle modifications. Contingent on further funding, BRAC will evaluate the effectiveness of this model in sustaining clinical outcomes and identifying pathways to scale across BRAC's large-scale health programme of over 40 000 community health workers. Funding Medtronic (formerly known as Medtronic Foundation).

Rationale and design of the Prone Position and Respiratory Outcomes in Non-intubated COVID-19 PatiEnts: The "PRONE" Study.

While benefits of prone position in mechanically-ventilated patients have been well-described, a randomized-control trial to determine the effects of prone positioning in awake, spontaneously-breathing patients with an acute pneumonia has not been previously conducted. Prone Position and Respiratory Outcomes in Non-Intubated COVID-19 PatiEnts: the "PRONE" Study (PRONE) was conducted in non-intubated hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia as defined by respiratory rate ≥ 20/min or an oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) ≤ 93% without supplemental oxygen [1]. The PRONE trial was designed to investigate the effects of prone positioning on need for escalation in respiratory support, as defined by need for transition to a higher acuity level of care, increased fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), or the initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation. Secondary objectives were to assess the duration of effect of prone positioning on respiratory parameters such as respiratory rate and SpO2, as well as other outcomes such as time to discharge or transition in level of care.

Changes in Emergency Department Patient Volume and Acuity Associated with Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Unique Environment.

INTRODUCTION: Hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) faced profound uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early concerns regarding demand far exceeding capacity were balanced by anecdotal reports of decreased patient visits, including those for specific high-acuity conditions. This study sought to identify changes in ED volume and acuity, within a specific managed care environment, associated with the onset of the pandemic. METHODS: Data from patient visits to 2 San Diego, California, EDs-within an integrated health-care system-were extracted from the electronic health record. Daily patient visits, hospital admissions from the ED, Emergency Severity Index scores, and mode of arrival were compared between two 28-day periods, with the 28 days following a "stay at home" order issued by the governor of California and a control period of the same dates in 2019. RESULTS: These EDs observed a significant decrease in daily visits (42% compared to the previous year) associated with the pandemic. An increased rate of hospital admissions (16.6%-21.6%) was suggestive of an overall increase in acuity; however, changes in the distribution of Emergency Severity Index scores were less pronounced. The overall number of admissions declined significantly. Although overall ambulance traffic decreased, the proportion of patients arriving by ambulance was unchanged. CONCLUSION: Patient volume in 2 EDs dropped significantly in association with a statewide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also a shift in acuity as measured by the proportion of patients admitted to the hospital, but overall admissions declined, suggesting sicker patients also did not seek care.