International Journal of Public Health (Aug 2022)

Telephone Monitoring of Isolated Patients With Suspected COVID-19 Disease in Primary Care: Prospective Cohort Study

  • Valle Coronado-Vázquez,
  • Valle Coronado-Vázquez,
  • Valle Coronado-Vázquez,
  • Elena Benito-Alonso,
  • Marina Holgado-Juan,
  • Maria Silvia Dorado-Rabaneda,
  • Cristina Bronchalo-González,
  • Juan Gómez-Salgado,
  • Juan Gómez-Salgado

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604747
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 67

Abstract

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Objective: Isolation of suspected cases of COVID-19 has been shown effective in reducing disease transmission and monitoring these patients from primary care allows to detect complications. The objective of this study is to determine the evolution of a cohort of patients with suspected COVID-19, and to analyse the factors associated with hospital admissions due to their unfavourable evolution.Methods: Prospective cohort study. A cohort of 166 patients with COVID-19 symptoms was selected and was followed-up by telephone calls during 14 days of home isolation.Results: By the end of the follow-up, a hospital admission had taken place in 14.7% of patients. The mean survival time until admission among diabetics was 12.6, 10.9 days for chronic kidney diseases, and 9.3 days in immunocompromised patients. Immunosuppression was a risk factor for admission over 50 years of age.Conclusion: Hospital admissions for suspected cases of COVID-19 are associated with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and immunosuppression. Telephone monitoring of these patients from primary care allows for home isolation and early detection of disease complications.

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