Summary: | The new SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has rapidly spread to many
countries and has pushed health systems to radical changes
in healthcare provision. This study aims to investigate the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of
chronic patients in Primary Health Care (PHC). A narrative
review of the literature was carried out in the PubMed
and Google Scholar databases. It was found that since
the pandemic’s onset, many regular medical visits have
led to delays, postponements, and even cancellations.
The reasons for this discontinuity of chronic care were
individual (fear and reluctance, home isolation), but also
collective (shortages of medical staff, weakening of PHC, and
suspension of outpatient care). Therefore, postponements
of scheduled medical visits, delayed seeking of help and
lack of medication adherence could lead to deregulation
of chronic diseases, posing a risk for catastrophic health
consequences. In order to ensure the continuity of
chronic care provision, health systems have adopted new
practices such as telemedicine and self-monitoring. The
inclusion of chronic care in national pandemic response
plans, the strengthening of PHC and the improvement of
communication between patients and public health officials
are essential preconditions to mitigate the indirect effects of
the pandemic on chronic care.
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