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. 2021 Sep-Oct:43:102089.
doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102089. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

COVID-19 home monitoring program: Healthcare innovation in developing, maintaining, and impacting the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients

Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq  1 , Hatim Kheir  2 , Talal Al-Dakheel  2 , Saeed Al-Qahtani  2 , Hussain AlKhadra  2 , Ahlam Sarhan  3 , Maryam Bu Halaiga  3 , Rana Ibrahim  3
Affiliations

COVID-19 home monitoring program: Healthcare innovation in developing, maintaining, and impacting the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients

Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq et al. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2021 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had caused an increased burden on healthcare organizations. Thus, a new strategy is needed to ensure all COVID-19 positive cases appropriately followed up , to receive the proper medical and psychological support, and to comply with the isolation guidelines. Here, we describe the characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients who were managed at home. In addition, we describe the differences between asymptomatic and those with mild symptoms.

Materials and methods: This is descriptive study of all COVID-19 positive cases who were monitored utilizing the home care concept.

Results: During the study period from June 8 to October 18, 2020, there was a total of 5368 COVID-19 patients who were referred to the home isolation/monitoring program. Of those, 2397 (45%) were female and 2971 (55%) were male. Of the total cases, 295 (5%) required hospital admission, 45 (1%) were admitted to zone 2 (an intermediate care facility), and the majority 5028 (94%) were continued in the home monitoring program till recovery. Of the total cases, 3137 (59%) were asymptomatic and the remaining 41% were symptomatic. Asymptomatic patients in comparison to symptomatic patients showed significant differences in relation to mean age (+ SD) of 31.5 (+ 18.6) and 46.45 (+ 17.1), respectively (P < 0.001)), gender, being healthcare workers, and the presence of significant medical conditions. However, a logistic regression analysis showed that only age and the presence of diabetes mellitus were associated with the presence of symptoms. The mean age (±SD) of those who required hospital admission was higher than those who were continued in home monitoring or cared for in zone 2.

Conclusion: The utilization of home monitoring program was effective and safe in patients who were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

Keywords: Asymptomatic; COVID-19; Home monitoring program; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The percentage of cases in reference to age group (N = 5368).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A Boxplot of the age of patients who required hospital admission, admission to zone 2 facility and those who remained in the home monitoring program till recovery.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A Boxplot of the age of patients who were asymptomatic or symptomatic upon diagnosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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