Telephonic Follow-up and the Risk of Death in Ambulatory Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Primary care level close monitoring of mild COVID-19 patients has shown to provide a risk reduction in hospitalization and death. We aimed to compare the risk of all-cause death among COVID-19 ambulatory patients who received and did not receive telephonic follow-up in primary health care settings. METHODS: A secondary database analysis, 2-group comparative study, was conducted with data from the medical information systems of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. A total of 1,498,808 ambulatory patients aged 20 years old and over and with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by PCR or rapid antigen test were analyzed. Of them, 535,898 (35.8%) where followed by telephonic calls. The cases were attended from October 14, 2020, to April 10, 2022. Death incidence was evaluated. To assess the association between death and telephonic follow-up we calculated risk ratio using a multivariate logistic model. RESULTS: Case fatality rate was 1.29% in the patients who received telephonic follow-up and 2.95% in the cases who did not receive phone calls. Medical history of chronic kidney disease, COPD, cardiovascular disease, tobacco consumption and diabetes were associated with increased risk of death. In the multivariate model, telephonic follow-up was associated with lower risk of all-cause death, with an adjusted risk ratio of 0.61 (95% confidence interval from 0.59, 0.64). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that telephonic follow-up is associated with a risk of death reduction in adult outpatients with mild COVID-19, in the context of a multimodal strategy in the primary health care settings.

A Multimodal Strategy to Reduce the Risk of Hospitalization/death in Ambulatory Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Different interventions have been implemented worldwide for the house-hold monitoring of patients with mild COVID-19 to reduce the burden of healthcare systems and guarantee quality of care. Telephone follow up and treatment kits have not been evaluated in the context of a national-wide primary care program. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare the risk of hospitalization and death for COVID-19 between ambulatory patients who received and those who did not receive a treatment kit and telephone follow-up in a developing country METHODS: A two-group comparative analysis was conducted using data from the medical information systems of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. We included a total of 28,048 laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients: 7,898 (28.2%) received a medical kit and 20,150 (71.8%) did not. The incidence rates of hospitalization and death combined were calculated. To identify significant associations between hospitalization or death and treatment medical kits, we calculated the risk ratios using a multivariate logistic model. RESULTS: The incidence of hospitalization was 6.14% in patients who received a kit and 11.71% in those who did not. Male sex, age, and a medical history of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, immunosuppression, or kidney disease were associated with increased risk of hospitalization or death. The risk rates were reduced in patients who received a medical kit or telephone follow-up. In the multivariate model, receiving a medical kit was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19: adjusted risk ratio 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.36-0.47). CONCLUSION: Use of a multimodal strategy may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in adult outpatients with mild COVID-19.

[Comprehensive care in type 2 diabetes: from DiabeIMSS to CADIMSS]. / Atención integral en diabetes tipo 2: transición del modelo DiabetIMSS a CADIMSS.

In diabetes, obtaining optimal control is key to reducing chronic complications. Unfortunately, not all patients achieve the recommended goals. Therefore, the challenges to develop and evaluate comprehensive care models are enormous. In October 2008, the Diabetic Patient Care Program (DiabetIMSS) was designed and implemented in family medicine. Its principal component is the multidisciplinary team (doctor, nurse, psychologist, dietitian, dentist, and social worker) that offers coordinated health care; monthly medical consultation and individual, family and group education on self-care and prevention of complications for 12 months. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of attendance at the DiabetIMSS modules decreased significantly. This is how the Medical Director considered it necessary to strengthen them, and the Diabetes Care Centers (CADIMSS) arose. In addition to providing medical care with a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, the CADIMSS encourages the co-responsibility of the patient and his family. It consists of monthly medical consultation and nursing staff provides monthly educational sessions for 6 months. Pending tasks remain and there are still areas of opportunity to modernize and reorganize services that contribute to improving the health of the population with diabetes.

En un paciente con diabetes, la obtención de un control óptimo es clave para reducir las complicaciones crónicas. Desafortunadamente, no todos los pacientes logran las metas recomendadas. Por ello, son substanciales los desafíos para desarrollar y evaluar modelos de atención integral. En octubre del 2008, se diseñó e implementó el Programa de Atención al Paciente Diabético (DiabetIMSS) en medicina familiar. Su componente básico es el equipo multidisciplinario (médico, enfermera, psicólogo, dietista, dentista y trabajador social) que ofrece asistencia sanitaria coordinada, consulta médica mensual y educación individual, familiar y grupal sobre autocuidado y prevención de complicaciones durante 12 meses. Debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, el porcentaje de asistencia a los módulos DiabetIMSS disminuyó importantemente. Es así como la Dirección de Prestaciones Médicas consideró necesario su fortalecimiento, por lo que surgen los Centros de Atención a la Diabetes (CADIMSS). Además de proporcionar atención médico-asistencial con enfoque integral y multidisciplinario, en los CADIMSS se fomenta la corresponsabilidad del paciente y su familia, y se otorga consulta médica mensual y sesiones educativas a cargo de personal de enfermería durante 6 meses. Sin embargo, siguen tareas pendientes, y aún hay áreas de oportunidad para modernizar y reorganizar los servicios que contribuyan a mejorar la salud de la población con diabetes.

[PREVENIMSS: a brief overview of its 20 years, challenges and opportunities]. / PREVENIMSS: un breve recorrido de sus 20 años, retos y oportunidades.

Twenty years after its launch, the most ambitious preventive program implemented at the institutional level in Mexico called PREVENIMSS focuses on new challenges and moves towards relaunching. This paper reviews the foundations and design of PREVENIMSS and its evolution throughout these two decades. The PREVENIMS coverage assessment through national surveys set a relevant precedent in evaluating programs at the Mexican Institute of Social Security. PREVENIMSS has shown progress in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. However, given the current epidemiological profile, there is still a need to provide more effective primary and secondary prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases. New digital resources and orientation of PREVENIMSS towards a more comprehensive approach that contemplates secondary prevention and rehabilitation can help to face the growing challenges that the program still faces.

A 20 años de su lanzamiento, el programa preventivo más ambicioso implementado a nivel institucional en México llamado PREVENIMSS se enfoca en nuevos desafíos y avanza hacia el relanzamiento. Este artículo hace un breve recorrido de sus fundamentos, diseño y evolución a lo largo de estas dos décadas. La estimación de las coberturas de PREVENIMSS a través de encuestas nacionales también marcó un precedente en la evaluación de programas en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. PREVENIMSS ha mostrado avances en prevención de enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación, pero aún existe la necesidad de brindar prevención primaria y secundaria más efectivos de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles ante el perfil epidemiológico actual. Nuevos recursos digitales y la orientación hacia un enfoque más integral que contemple la prevención secundaria y la rehabilitación pueden ayudar a enfrentar los crecientes desafíos que aún enfrenta el programa.