Telemedicine in rheumatology at time of COVID pandemic
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
; 80(SUPPL 1):1475, 2021.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1358795
ABSTRACT
Background:
The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has imposed considerable restrictions on people's mobility in order to limit infection transmission. Before the COVID -19 pandemic tele-rheumatology was proposed to patients living in remote areas. Currently, the use of telemedicine has increased significantly. We report on the implementation of a telemedicine program for the evaluation and treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases (1).Objectives:
The aim of the study is to evaluate telemedicine as a viable approach for routine follow-up and management of rheumatic disease.Methods:
Sixty-six patients were evaluated online by the remote rheumatologist in four weeks. The population of rheumatology patients was evaluated using a IARPLUS platform Information collected included demographic information consisting of age, gender, and primary rheumatologic diagnosis.Results:
The average age of patients who were seen was 54 years and 85% of patients were women. The most common disorders included rheumatoid arthritis (22, 33%), axial spondyloarthropathies (7, 11%), and psoriatic arthritis (15,23%), systemic sclerosis (13, 20%), lupus (6, 9%), UCTD (2,3%), Sjogren and fibromyalgia (1, 1.5%).Results:
All patients were given recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine administration. Therapy was remodeled in 13 patients (in particular in 5 patients with anemia intravenous iron infusion was scheduled;1 started immunosuppressant therapy for proteinuria, 4 increased methotrexate for disease activity, 2 discontinued Methotrexate for adverse events (hypertransaminasemia), 1 suspended OH-chloroquine due to retinal accumulation;2 biologic-naive patients, after a three-month of waiting due to inability to come to the hospital, started the biologic drug;22 patients received a renewal of the therapeutic plan;25 patients had a regular six-month follow up;2 ticket exemption for illness;13 consultations and/ or laboratory tests (1 pneumological consultation, 1 ophthalmological consultation, 1 request for sacro-iliac MRI, 3 nailfold videocapillaroscopies, 3 FKT, 1 musculotendinous ultrasound, 1 antibodies for celiac disease, 2 antibodies anti Sars-CoV-2).Conclusion:
Telemedicine is becoming more prevalent. We report the successful use of this service in evaluation and management of rheumatic diseases in a period with limited access to rheumatologic care. We have shown that patients can be seen, evaluated, and successfully treated with a variety of medications, including biologic agents, and evaluated for both chronic inflammatory arthropaties and connective tissue diseases.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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