Change in CF care during COVID-19 Pandemic: Single-Center Experience in a middle-income setting

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demanded care changes for patients with chronic disease. Patients with CF are considered at higher risk of developing severe manifestations in the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a need for new ways of safer care delivery has been required to avoid transmission. Objectives: To assess the impact of the lockdown during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote monitoring on patient’s health status and daily maintenance therapy in a middle-income resource setting. Methods: During the first wave of the pandemic period, we changed from regular clinic visits to telephone visit calls to monitor our patients’ health condition and adherence to physiotherapy and physical exercise. Results: A total of 120 patients or their caregivers have been contacted by telephone call visits over ten weeks. During this period, 38 patients (28.33%) were identified to have pulmonary exacerbation; 89.5% were prescribed oral antibiotics, 3% were hospitalized to get iv antibiotics, and 8% of the patients presented other CF complications. Most of the patients did not change the frequency of the daily physiotherapy. Moreover, 71% of the patients who performed regular physical exercise changed the frequency and the type of exercise during the quarantine period. Interestingly, mean FEV1 and body weight increased significantly and after the lockdown period. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of telephone contact processes aiming for CF patients’ appropriate care is of great importance. Further studies are needed to evaluate patient outcomes when transitioning from face-to-face clinics to telemedicine clinics.

Impact of Digital Technologies on Clinical Care for Adults with Cystic Fibrosis

“…It has proved effective in the short term during COVID-19 to monitor patients' health condition and adherence to physiotherapy and physical exercise. 30…”

Potential opportunities and challenges for infection prevention and control for cystic fibrosis in the modern era

“…Findings included increased availability of telemedicine visits, home spirometry, and remote collection of respiratory tract cultures over time. As evidence of the safety and effectiveness of telephone visits conducted at a single cystic fibrosis center, a protocol was implemented for providers to screen for and treat pulmonary exacerbations based on information collected during these calls [13]. Furthermore, PwCF had improvements in weight and lung function.…”