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Feasibility of telemedicine in the management strategy of patients with lymphoma amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, a prospective study
Raul Cordoba;
Alberto Lopez-Garcia;
Daniel Morillo;
Maria-Angeles Perez-Saenz;
Elham Askari;
Elena Prieto;
Eva Castillo;
Pilar Llamas;
Alberto Pardo;
Antonio Herrero;
Jorge Short;
Marta del Olmo;
Javier Arcos
ABSTRACT
Background:
Recurrent hospital visits were potential risk factors for COVID-19 contagion.
Objective:
The aims of this prospective observational study was to analyze the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic in the health care of patients with lymphoma and the impact of telemedicine strategies such as the patient portal in their management.
Methods:
All data were obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR). Variables such as age, sex, matter of the visit, use of patient’s portal, changes in management, impact in clinical trials and suffering from COVID-19 contagion were recorded.
Results:
290 patients were attended in the lymphoma clinic accomplishing 437 appointments. The median age was 66 years (range 18-94), and 157 (54.13%) were male. Of them, 109 out of 290 (37.58%) were aged older then 70 years. Regarding number of visits, 214 patients (73.79%) had only 1 visit to the hospital. Only 23 patients (7.93%) didn’t have access to patient’s portal. During the follow-up, only 7 patients (2.41%) suffered from COVID-19, with a median age of 66 years (51-80).
Conclusions:
Telemedicine such as patient’s portal are feasible strategies in the management of patients with lymphoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a reduction of in-person visits to hospital and a very low contagion rate. This experience allowed us to continue with a new digital health strategy in the follow up of patients with hematologic malignancies. Clinical Trial: Not registered.
Citation
Please cite as:
Cordoba R, Lopez-Garcia A, Morillo D, Perez-Saenz MA, Askari E, Prieto E, Castillo E, Llamas P, Pardo A, Herrero A, Short J, del Olmo M, Arcos J
Feasibility of Telemedicine in the Management Strategy of Patients With Lymphoma Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: Prospective Observational Study