Utilisation of telehealth for outpatient diabetes management during COVID-19 pandemic: how did the patients fare?
COVID-19
diabetes mellitus
glycaemic control
outpatient service
telehealth
Journal
Internal medicine journal
ISSN: 1445-5994
Titre abrégé: Intern Med J
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 101092952
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
12 2021
12 2021
Historique:
revised:
22
06
2021
received:
08
03
2021
accepted:
30
06
2021
pubmed:
7
7
2021
medline:
6
1
2022
entrez:
6
7
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many outpatient services at public hospitals, including diabetes services, had adopted telehealth appointments for their clinic patients. There was concern that patients' glycaemic control may worsen during the pandemic. To assess glycaemic control of patients with diabetes attending telehealth consultations in 2020, compared to face-to-face reviews prior to pandemic. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with diabetes managed by telehealth consultations over 5 months at two metropolitan hospitals in Sydney. Their attendance rate, glycaemic control and unplanned admissions to hospital were assessed, and these were compared with the same period 12 months prior when patients were reviewed via face-to-face appointments. Between April and September 2020, the attendance rate for telehealth consultation at the diabetes services at the two hospitals was 88.9% (884 out of 994), which was higher than in 2019 (85.2%; 818 out of 959; P = 0.016) when patients attended via face-to-face appointments. Of the 629 patients reviewed via telehealth in 2020 and who had been with our service for over 12 months, glycaemic control was better in 2020 (HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.4% (62 ± 15 mmol/mol)) compared with 12 months earlier (8.2 ± 1.7% (66 ± 19 mmol/mol); P < 0.001). There was no difference in the number of unplanned admissions for this cohort in 2020 (n = 58; 9.2%) compared with 2019 (n = 75; 11.9%; P = 0.100). The present study showed that for patients with diabetes who received care via telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 lockdown, their glycaemic control was slightly better, and unplanned admission rates were not higher compared with those in the pre-COVID-19 period. Telehealth consultation offers an important care delivery option in the management of patients with diabetes under these circumstances.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many outpatient services at public hospitals, including diabetes services, had adopted telehealth appointments for their clinic patients. There was concern that patients' glycaemic control may worsen during the pandemic.
AIM
To assess glycaemic control of patients with diabetes attending telehealth consultations in 2020, compared to face-to-face reviews prior to pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of patients with diabetes managed by telehealth consultations over 5 months at two metropolitan hospitals in Sydney. Their attendance rate, glycaemic control and unplanned admissions to hospital were assessed, and these were compared with the same period 12 months prior when patients were reviewed via face-to-face appointments.
RESULTS
Between April and September 2020, the attendance rate for telehealth consultation at the diabetes services at the two hospitals was 88.9% (884 out of 994), which was higher than in 2019 (85.2%; 818 out of 959; P = 0.016) when patients attended via face-to-face appointments. Of the 629 patients reviewed via telehealth in 2020 and who had been with our service for over 12 months, glycaemic control was better in 2020 (HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.4% (62 ± 15 mmol/mol)) compared with 12 months earlier (8.2 ± 1.7% (66 ± 19 mmol/mol); P < 0.001). There was no difference in the number of unplanned admissions for this cohort in 2020 (n = 58; 9.2%) compared with 2019 (n = 75; 11.9%; P = 0.100).
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that for patients with diabetes who received care via telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 lockdown, their glycaemic control was slightly better, and unplanned admission rates were not higher compared with those in the pre-COVID-19 period. Telehealth consultation offers an important care delivery option in the management of patients with diabetes under these circumstances.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34227718
doi: 10.1111/imj.15441
pmc: PMC8447012
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
2021-2026Informations de copyright
© 2021 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
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