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

• Published in: Travel medicine and infectious disease 2021-09, Vol.43, p.102089-102089, Article 102089
• Main Authors: Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A., Kheir, Hatim, Al-Dakheel, Talal, Al-Qahtani, Saeed, AlKhadra, Hussain, Sarhan, Ahlam, Bu Halaiga, Maryam, Ibrahim, Rana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Asymptomatic; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Female; Gender; Health care; Health Personnel; Home monitoring program; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Monitoring; Original; Pandemics; Patients; Quarantine; Regression analysis; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Smartphones; Symptoms; Travel medicine
• ISSN: 1477-8939; 1873-0442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102089

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. This is descriptive study of all COVID-19 positive cases who were monitored utilizing the home care concept. 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. The utilization of home monitoring program was effective and safe in patients who were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.