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Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment in Korea: A multicenter survey.
Kim, Sei Won; Kim, Hwan Hee; Kim, Kyu Yean; Lee, Sang Haak; Kang, Hyeon Hui.
  • Kim SW; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Kim HH; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Kim KY; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Republic of Korea.
  • Lee SH; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Kang HH; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 100(51): e28461, 2021 Dec 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1594863
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only changed the lives of people around the world but also affected all areas of the healthcare system, including sleep medicine. However, no studies in Korea have investigated the status of domestic sleep centers and their challenges during the pandemic.An online survey was performed from December 2020 to January 2021. Hospitals that belonged to sleep-related academic societies and were considered well managed were included in this survey. The questionnaire focused on changes in sleep center operations, infection control policies, and patient treatment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine and future directions for sleep medicine services were also investigated.Of the 20 sleep centers that responded, 80% were at university hospitals with more than 500 inpatient beds. During the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea (November-December 2020), the routine operating schedule of the sleep study room was reduced in 30% of the sleep centers compared to November-December 2019 (before COVID-19). The number of type 1 polysomnographies performed decreased in 85% of the sleep centers. In contrast, in-lab positive airway pressure (PAP) titrations decreased in 40%, remained unchanged in 35%, and increased in 25%. With respect to prescriptions, 30% of the sleep centers increased the number of prescriptions for auto-titrating continuous PAP. However, 60% of the sleep centers reported no change in the rate of fixed continuous PAP and auto-titrating continuous PAP prescriptions. All sleep centers that participated in this survey agreed that the need for documented infection control regulations will continue after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 30% of the centers have tried telemedicine. However, respondents expressed concern about telemedicine, citing a number of practical issues.Compared to countries where the COVID-19 pandemic was severe, Korea had less impact of COVID-19 on the sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment. Infection and quality control in the sleep study room are important and inevitable issues, and regulation within each institution is necessary. Further research and discussion are needed regarding telemedicine and home sleep apnea test in Korea.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Telemedicine / Ambulatory Care Facilities / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Telemedicine / Ambulatory Care Facilities / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Year: 2021 Document Type: Article