OUTCOME OF TELEMONITORING OF COVID-19 CASES ENROLLED UNDER HOME ISOLATION OF A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Abstract Introduction: Healthcare systems around the world were adopting models to manage patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Telemedicine provides an approach for remote monitoring and management of patients infected with SARS- CoV2. Several telemedicine initiatives specific to COVID-19 have been successful, reporting low hospitalization rates and mortality. We created a telemedicine service, structured around frequent, virtual appointments with providers, to monitor and manage patients infected with SARS-CoV2 at an academic, tertiary care center. Methods: A Longitudinal study was conducted among 1135 patients from June 2020 to June 2021 for Asymptomatic/ Mild symptomatic patients enrolled in the Covid home care program at a Tertiary Care Hospital residing in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu districts. We created a novel telemedicine program to closely monitor patients infected with COVID-19 at home. Adult patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in the program at the time of documented infection. Patients were followed by a team of providers via telephone or video visits at frequent intervals until the resolution of their acute illness. Results: A total of 1135 patients were monitored, out of which wave 1 comprised 688 patients (60.6%) and wave 2 comprised 447 patients (39.4%). In wave 1, 354 patients were symptomatic in which majority of them 41.2% had a fever. In wave 2, 366 patients were symptomatic, which majority of them 48.4% had a fever. Comparing Wave 1 and Wave 2, patients in wave 2 were more symptomatic than in wave 1. The majority of them had a fever (48.4%), cough (33.1%), and body aches (26.2%) in wave 2 and in wave 1, the majority of them had loss of smell (27.4%), sore throat (13.6%) of which, patients with sore throats in wave 1 and wave 2 were statistically significant. Conclusion: Enrollment in a home monitoring program appears to be an effective and sustainable modality for the ambulatory management of COVID-19.