Transition to Virtual Asthma Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
; 10(6): 1569-1576, 2022 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1720227
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic increased reliance on virtual care for patients with persistent asthma.OBJECTIVE:
This retrospective cohort study assessed changes from in-person to virtual care during the pandemic. In patients with persistent asthma, compared with the same period before the pandemic.METHODS:
Kaiser Permanente Colorado members aged 18 to 99 years with persistent asthma were evaluated during two periods (March to October 2019 and March to October 2020). Comparison of asthma exacerbations (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and courses of oral prednisone) and asthma medication metrics were evaluated between the two periods and by type of care received during the pandemic (no care, virtual care only, in-person care only, or a mix of virtual and in-person care). Population characteristics by type of care received during the pandemic were also evaluated.RESULTS:
Among 7,805 adults with persistent asthma, those who used more virtual care or sought no care during the pandemic were younger and had fewer comorbidities, mental health diagnoses, or financial barriers. Exacerbations decreased (0.264 to 0.214; P <.001) as did courses of prednisone (0.213 to 0.169). Asthma medication adherence (0.53 to 0.54; P <.001) and the asthma medication ratio, a quality-of-care metric (0.755 to 0.762; P = .019), increased slightly. Patients receiving a mix of in-person and virtual care had the highest rate of exacerbations (0.83) and a lower asthma medication ratio (0.74) despite having the highest adherence (.57).CONCLUSIONS:
Despite an increase in virtual care, asthma exacerbations decreased except among individuals who received both in-person and virtual care, likely because they had more severe disease.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Asthma
/
Telemedicine
/
Anti-Asthmatic Agents
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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