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Willen SM, Cohen RT. Unmasking Acute Chest Syndrome: Understanding the Role of Nonpharmacologic Interventions on Children with Sickle Cell Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Chest 2024; 165:9-11. [PMID: 38199737 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shaina M Willen
- Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Pulmonology and Hematology/Oncology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Robyn T Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Allergy, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.
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King L, Alexander-Gabbadon K, Chin N, Hammond-Gabbadon C, Simmonds-Brooks P, Harris J, Martin H, Witter K, Bartlett R, Knight-Madden J, Asnani M. Telehealth: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: The Sickle Cell Unit Experience. Telemed J E Health 2023; 29:1781-1791. [PMID: 37092975 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: To examine the use of telehealth for delivery of health care in persons with sickle cell disease in a resource-constrained country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of patient encounters at the Sickle Cell Unit (SCU), Jamaica during a 3-year period, March 10, 2019 to March 9, 2022 and a comparison of endpoints between 1 year before and 2 years during the pandemic. Primary endpoints of registration numbers, day-care admissions, and study visits were obtained from logbooks and the electronic medical records. Additional endpoints included well visits, hydroxyurea (HU) visits, and bone pain crisis. Results: Patients registered at the clinic on 17,295 occasions, with 7,820 in the pre-pandemic year decreasing by 43.8% and 35% in the 2 subsequent pandemic years. Overall, study visits increased by 4.9% and 1.3% in the pandemic years. They increased in adults by 13.1% and 8.9% but fell by 3.2% and 6.2% in children. Fewer people were seen in the pandemic years, with children showing a 20.7% decline in numbers. Tele-visits accounted for 31.4% of all study visits during the pandemic years and increased by 23.6% between the pandemic years. There were more well-visits and HU visits, but fewer pain visits and day-care admissions in the pandemic years. Conclusions: The SCU maintained health care delivery for a high-risk population during the pandemic, with tele-visits mitigating the short-fall from in-person visits. Tele-visits may be more acceptable to adults with a chronic illness and may be a suitable alternative for delivering health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley King
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Kesha Alexander-Gabbadon
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Nicki Chin
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Christine Hammond-Gabbadon
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Patrice Simmonds-Brooks
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - June Harris
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Hopelyn Martin
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Krystal Witter
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Rachel Bartlett
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Jennifer Knight-Madden
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Monika Asnani
- Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
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Becker RC. Evaluating chest pain in patients with post COVID conditions permission to think outside of the box. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2023; 55:592-603. [PMID: 37052772 PMCID: PMC10098243 DOI: 10.1007/s11239-023-02808-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Chest pain is among the most common symptoms of post-COVID-19 Conditions (PCC) that prompts medical attention. Because the SARS-CoV-2 virus has proclivity for many organs and organ systems in the chest, ranging from the heart, lungs, great vessels, lymphatics, and peripheral nerves, clinicians evaluating patients with chest pain must consider a broad differential diagnosis and take a comprehensive approach to management.
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