ABSTRACT
Purpose: Determine the risk of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) for COVID-19 infection morbidity.Method: A telemedicine survey on patients of a referral uveitis clinic was performed. Signs of infection, habits, and hospitalizations during the 7 months of the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the study date were recorded. Suggestive findings in chest CT scan and/or positive RT-PCR were considered as confirmed COVID-19 infection while those with only suggestive symptoms were considered as suspected cases. Risk factors including sanitary measures and IMT were compared between patients with confirmed cases and patients without infection.Result: 694 patients were included. Eight patients were identified as confirmed cases and 22 patients as suspected cases of COVID-19 infection. Close contact with infected persons was the only significant risk factor for contracting COVID-19.Conclusion: Using IMT did not affect hospitalization and/or ICU admission and can thus be continued during the pandemic, provided that instructions for preventive measures are followed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Immunomodulation/physiology , Immunosuppression Therapy/methods , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Telemedicine/methods , Uveitis/therapy , Adult , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Uveitis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Spurred by the coronavirus disease pandemic and shortage of eye care providers, telemedicine is transforming the way ophthalmologists care for their patients. Video conferencing, ophthalmic imaging, hybrid visits, intraocular inflammation quantification, and portable technology are evolving areas that may allow more uveitis patients to be evaluated via telemedicine. Despite these promising disruptive technologies, there remain significant technological limitations, legal barriers, variable insurance coverage for virtual visits, and lack of clinical trials for uveitis specialists to embrace telemedicine.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Ophthalmology/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Specialization/trends , Telemedicine/methods , Uveitis/diagnosis , Uveitis/therapy , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Delivery of Health Care/trends , HumansABSTRACT
Italy was the first European country to be affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this scenario, we had to face a new clinical approach in our Pediatric Rheumatology Unit for the management of patients affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. During the lockdown (phase 1), the weekly outpatient clinic was discontinued and telephone consultations were set up. A toll-free telephone number was instituted for emergencies. None of our children with JIA-associated uveitis was advised to stop the ongoing immunosuppressant systemic therapy. We had no cases of COVID-19 infection and uveitis activity was under control in all but two out of 125 patients, which was comparable with the pre-COVID-19 situation. During phase 2 of the pandemic, hospital and ambulatory rearrangements were made to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, during the first 4 weeks of phase 2, we did not notice an increased number of patients with uveitis activity.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Juvenile/complications , Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Disease Management , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Referral and Consultation , Uveitis/therapy , COVID-19 , Child , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Uveitis/etiologyABSTRACT
This document summarizes the experience of the International Uveitis Study Group (IUSG), the Intraocular Inflammation Society (IOIS), and the Foster Ocular Inflammation Society (FOIS) and can aid as a guide for the treatment of uveitis patients in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.