Telephone surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic: Is it a helpful diagnostic tool for detecting acute pulmonary exacerbations in children with chronic lung disease?

Abstract

Introduction The global burden of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease pandemic on the healthcare system, as well as the high transmission risk of coronavirus disease has led to the use of alternative strategies for evaluation of children with chronic conditions. In this context, telemedicine has become the effective and affordable choice. In this study we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of telephone visits to determine pulmonary exacerbations and hospitalization rates of children with cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. Methods A total of 119 children with cystic fibrosis or interstitial lung disease were enrolled and provided cases in which telephone visits were applied during the peak time of the coronavirus disease pandemic in our country. The recordings of respiratory, gastrointestinal and other symptoms, nutrition status, rate of acute pulmonary exacerbation, treatments initiated by telephone visits, referral to hospital and hospitalization were established from the electronic health reports of the patients. Results Thirteen patients (10.9%) were symptomatic, 12 of them (10%) were diagnosed with acute pulmonary exacerbation. One patient was diagnosed with peripheral facial paralysis. Nine patients were recalled to the hospital and seven patients (5.8%) were hospitalised. Discussion Using telemedicine the health status of patients can be defined, and patients can be guided on proper healthcare that they need, especially during the times of pandemics which we are facing. Communication with patients while minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus disease is an important advantage of telemedicine. Telemedicine will have to be implemented on our daily medical practice in the near future.

A multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial on coaching and telemonitoring in patients with cystic fibrosis: conneCT CF

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance and potential of digital technologies in patient care, and different strategies have been rapidly implemented (49)(50)(51). Scientific evidence for the feasibility, clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of these interventions in patients with chronic conditions like CF is urgently needed to form the basis of a regulatory framework to authorize, integrate, and finance telemedicine services (52).…”

Impact of COVID‐19 on pediatric pulmonology healthcare practice

“…Previous reports also suggest that by the help of telemedicine and the distribution of medical care services to sick people remotely using communication and information technology would help early diagnosis and interventions in chronic lung diseases. 21 …”

“…Previous reports also suggest that by the help of telemedicine and the distribution of medical care services to sick people remotely using communication and information technology would help early diagnosis and interventions in chronic lung diseases. 21 In pediatric pulmonology practice, PFTs are routinely used to assess lung disease in children and adolescents, which can help physicians in the decision-making process. 9 They are usually used to diagnose pulmonary exacerbations during the follow-up of chronic lung diseases.…”

Analysis of Social Determinants and the Utilization of Pediatric Tele–Urgent Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study

“…Telehealth is increasingly used to provide specialty consultations to infants and children receiving care [4]. However, since the pandemic, the use of tele-urgent care for pediatrics has grown to include telephone consultations and remote surveillance or to replace in-person primary care visits without sufficient evaluation of these interventions [5][6][7]. There is limited knowledge on the use of tele-urgent care to respond to urgent care needs in pediatrics during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”