Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic
Background: Telemedicine is an alternative to the standard consultation with a specialist during COVID-19 pandemic. Though their benefits are not well studied, the phone consultations are a potential effective resource for providing medical and psycho-social help to patients with chronic diseases du...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Bulgarian |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Българска кардиология |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journal.bgcardio.org/article/58060/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1827610199524900864 |
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| author | Radostina Ilieva Rumena Savova Nataliya Spasova Desislava Somleva Bozhidar Krastev Alexander Milanov Stanimir Hasardzhiev Assen Goudev |
| author_facet | Radostina Ilieva Rumena Savova Nataliya Spasova Desislava Somleva Bozhidar Krastev Alexander Milanov Stanimir Hasardzhiev Assen Goudev |
| author_sort | Radostina Ilieva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Telemedicine is an alternative to the standard consultation with a specialist during COVID-19 pandemic. Though their benefits are not well studied, the phone consultations are a potential effective resource for providing medical and psycho-social help to patients with chronic diseases during social isolation. Aim: To assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, who looked for cardiology help on the phone, and the most common reasons for these consultations. Material and Methods: We analyzed the data of 196 consecutive patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases, who called for cardiology consultation at the National Patients’ Organization between 22.04.2020 and 31.07.2020. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 71,7 ± 11,3 years (17 ÷ 92), and 149 of them (76%) were above the age of 65 years (who we defi ned as elderly). 114 (58%) of the consulted on the phone were females. 96 patients (49%) called from Sofi a. The mean duration of the call was 8,5 minutes. The most common reasons for teleconsultation were unstable blood pressure – in 30% of the patients (n = 59) and anxiety – 17% (n = 33). Other reasons for seeking cardiology help were adjusting the therapy (different from the antihypertensive one) – 8%, chest pain – 7%, dyspnea – 7%, questions about follow-up of a chronic disease – 7%, palpitations – 6%, monitoring of INR – 4%, second opinion before an operation or a procedure – 2%, problems getting medications or protocols – 1,5%, administrative issues (TELK/LKK) – 1,5%. The most common chronic diseases of the consulted were: arterial hypertension (89%), heart failure (31%), ischemic heart disease (25%), diabetes mellitus (22%) and atrial fibrillation (15%). Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic the elderly and the women more often look for cardiology help on the phone. The suboptimal control of the blood pressure and the anxiety, caused by the pandemic, are the most common reasons for phone consultations of the patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:45:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a689241b2a54eba9c2765140f362c2a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2683-1015 |
| language | Bulgarian |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:45:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Българска кардиология |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a689241b2a54eba9c2765140f362c2a2023-12-03T03:28:19ZbulPensoft PublishersБългарска кардиология2683-10152020-12-01264404510.3897/bgcardio.26.e5806058060Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemicRadostina Ilieva0Rumena Savova1Nataliya Spasova2Desislava Somleva3Bozhidar Krastev4Alexander Milanov5Stanimir Hasardzhiev6Assen Goudev7UMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULUMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULUMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULUMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULUMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULNational Patients' OrganizationNational Patients' OrganizationUMHAT Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISULBackground: Telemedicine is an alternative to the standard consultation with a specialist during COVID-19 pandemic. Though their benefits are not well studied, the phone consultations are a potential effective resource for providing medical and psycho-social help to patients with chronic diseases during social isolation. Aim: To assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, who looked for cardiology help on the phone, and the most common reasons for these consultations. Material and Methods: We analyzed the data of 196 consecutive patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases, who called for cardiology consultation at the National Patients’ Organization between 22.04.2020 and 31.07.2020. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 71,7 ± 11,3 years (17 ÷ 92), and 149 of them (76%) were above the age of 65 years (who we defi ned as elderly). 114 (58%) of the consulted on the phone were females. 96 patients (49%) called from Sofi a. The mean duration of the call was 8,5 minutes. The most common reasons for teleconsultation were unstable blood pressure – in 30% of the patients (n = 59) and anxiety – 17% (n = 33). Other reasons for seeking cardiology help were adjusting the therapy (different from the antihypertensive one) – 8%, chest pain – 7%, dyspnea – 7%, questions about follow-up of a chronic disease – 7%, palpitations – 6%, monitoring of INR – 4%, second opinion before an operation or a procedure – 2%, problems getting medications or protocols – 1,5%, administrative issues (TELK/LKK) – 1,5%. The most common chronic diseases of the consulted were: arterial hypertension (89%), heart failure (31%), ischemic heart disease (25%), diabetes mellitus (22%) and atrial fibrillation (15%). Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic the elderly and the women more often look for cardiology help on the phone. The suboptimal control of the blood pressure and the anxiety, caused by the pandemic, are the most common reasons for phone consultations of the patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases.https://journal.bgcardio.org/article/58060/download/pdf/COVID-19telemedicineteleconsultationarterial |
| spellingShingle | Radostina Ilieva Rumena Savova Nataliya Spasova Desislava Somleva Bozhidar Krastev Alexander Milanov Stanimir Hasardzhiev Assen Goudev Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic Българска кардиология COVID-19 telemedicine teleconsultation arterial |
| title | Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | telecardiology for patients with chronic heart diseases during covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 telemedicine teleconsultation arterial |
| url | https://journal.bgcardio.org/article/58060/download/pdf/ |
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