Change in CF care during COVID-19 Pandemic: Single-Center Experience in
a middle-income setting
Abstract
Introduction: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demanded care
changes for patients with chronic disease. Patients with CF are
considered at higher risk of developing severe manifestations in the
case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a need for new ways of safer care
delivery has been required to avoid transmission. Objectives: To assess
the impact of the lockdown during the first wave of the COVID-19
pandemic and remote monitoring on patient’s health status and daily
maintenance therapy in a middle-income resource setting. Methods: During
the first wave of the pandemic period, we changed from regular clinic
visits to telephone visit calls to monitor our patients’ health
condition and adherence to physiotherapy and physical exercise. Results:
A total of 120 patients or their caregivers have been contacted by
telephone call visits over ten weeks. During this period, 38 patients
(28.33%) were identified to have pulmonary exacerbation; 89.5% were
prescribed oral antibiotics, 3% were hospitalized to get iv antibiotics
and 8% of the patients presented other CF complications. Most of the
patients did not change the frequency of the daily physiotherapy.
Moreover, 71% of the patients who performed regular physical exercise
changed the frequency and the type of exercise during the quarantine
period. Interestingly, mean FEV1 and body weight increased significantly
and after the lockdown period. Conclusions: During the COVID-19
pandemic, the implementation of telephone contact processes aiming for
CF patients’ appropriate care is of great importance. Further studies
are needed to evaluate patient outcomes when transitioning from
face-to-face clinics to telemedicine clinics.