Interpreting COVID-19 and Virtual Care Trends: Cohort Study
Interpreting COVID-19 and Virtual Care Trends: Cohort Study
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DOI：
10.2196/18811
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发表时间：
2020-04-01
影响因子：
8.5
通讯作者：
Gianforcaro, Robert
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Khairat, Saif;Meng, Chenlu;Gianforcaro, Robert
背景：冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行正在世界各地迅速蔓延。截至2020年3月26日，与COVID-19相关的病例超过50万例，死亡人数超过25，000人，而且人数还在每小时增加。目的：本研究的目的是探索北卡罗来纳州确诊COVID-19病例的趋势，并了解与COVID-19症状相关的虚拟就诊模式。方法：我们使用按需的全州虚拟紧急护理中心对确诊的COVID-19病例和患者进行了一项队列研究。我们收集了2020年2月1日至2020年3月15日的数据。结果：截至2020年3月18日，共有92例确诊的COVID-19病例和733次虚拟访问。在所有就诊中，257例（35.1%）与COVID-19样症状有关。在COVID-19类就诊中，女性人数为178人（69. 2%）。30-39岁（n=67，26.1%）和40-49岁（n=64，24.9%）年龄组的患者占总患者的一半。此外，约96.9%（n=249）的COVID样接触来自北卡罗来纳州。我们的研究表明，虚拟医疗可以在COVID-19病例最多的县提供有效的分流。我们还证实，该疾病的最大传播发生在人口密度高的地区以及拥有主要机场的地区。结论：虚拟医疗的使用在抗击COVID-19方面具有很大的潜力。虚拟医疗能够减少急诊室就诊，节省医疗资源，并通过远程治疗患者避免COVID-19的传播。我们呼吁在COVID-19大流行期间，美国和世界各地的卫生系统进一步采用虚拟护理。
Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly spreading across the world. As of March 26, 2020, there are more than 500,000 cases and more than 25,000 deaths related to COVID-19, and the numbers are increasing by the hour.Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the trends in confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina, and to understand patterns in virtual visits related to symptoms of COVID-19.Methods: We conducted a cohort study of confirmed COVID-19 cases and patients using an on-demand, statewide virtual urgent care center. We collected data from February 1, 2020, to March 15, 2020. Institutional Review Board exemption was obtained prior to the study.Results: As of March, 18 2020, there were 92 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 733 total virtual visits. Of the total visits, 257 (35.1%) were related to COVID-19-like symptoms. Of the COVID-19-like visits, the number of females was 178 (69.2%). People in the age groups of 30-39 years (n=67, 26.1%) and 40-49 years (n=64, 24.9%) were half of the total patients. Additionally, approximately 96.9% (n=249) of the COVID-like encounters came from within the state of North Carolina. Our study shows that virtual care can provide efficient triaging in the counties with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. We also confirmed that the largest spread of the disease occurs in areas with a high population density as well as in areas with major airports.Conclusions: The use of virtual care presents promising potential in the fight against COVID-19. Virtual care is capable of reducing emergency room visits, conserving health care resources, and avoiding the spread of COVID-19 by treating patients remotely. We call for further adoption of virtual care by health systems across the United States and the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.