Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm follow-up: when the phone rings. Changes during the COVID-19 pandemic and patient satisfaction. Experience in 30 health centers in Spain.
Ann Hematol
; 102(2): 447-456, 2023 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36422672
ABSTRACT
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has favored the expansion of telemedicine. Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph-MPN) might be good candidates for virtual follow-up. In this study, we aimed to analyze the follow-up of patients with Ph-MPN in Spain during COVID-19, its effectiveness, and acceptance among patients. We present a multicenter retrospective study from 30 centers. Five hundred forty-one patients were included with a median age of 67 years (yr). With a median follow-up of 19 months, 4410 appointments were recorded. The median of visits per patient was 7 and median periodicity was 2.7 months; significantly more visits and a higher frequency of them were registered in myelofibrosis (MF) patients. 60.1% of visits were in-person, 39.5% were by telephone, and 0.3% were videocall visits, with a predominance of telephone visits for essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) patients over MF, as well as for younger patients (< 50 yr). The proportion of phone visits significantly decreased after the first semester of the pandemic. Pharmacological modifications were performed only in 25.7% of the visits, and, considering overall management, ET patients needed fewer global treatment changes. Telephone contact effectiveness reached 90% and only 5.4% required a complementary in-person appointment. Although 56.2% of the cohort preferred in-person visits, 90.5% of our patients claimed to be satisfied with follow-up during the pandemic, with an 83% of positive comments. In view of our results, telemedicine has proven effective and efficient, and might continue to play a complementary role in Ph-MPN patients' follow-up.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polycythemia Vera
/
Primary Myelofibrosis
/
COVID-19
/
Thrombocythemia, Essential
/
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Hematol
Journal subject:
HEMATOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain