The pandemic has affected many patients, but patients with chronic lung conditions may be affected more than others.
Management of chronic diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been neglected and side-lined with devastating negative effects.
It is just part of human nature; a pressing shocking new problem existing problems. i.e "Out of sight, out of mind"
Interestingly prior to the pandemic many physicians resisted telemedicine. During the pandemic it became the only way to continue to deliver any semblance of outpatient care for any condition. Now it is the new normal and many are saying that there should be a clear reason to bring the patient to the hospital for follow up and telemedicine should be the norm.
@rajkumar exactly, but in developing countries, the foundation for proper telemedicine is lacking, with many patients relying on direct physician contact to maintain the management of their chronic diseases
@Muhammad Yousuf, the side effects of the neglected aspect is going to be a major problem in the coming months, i have a patient with lung cancer and his diagnosis has been delayed for 5 months due to the pandemic... It is really big problem
Let me share with you my experience in Iraq
Bronchoscopy services are very limited and done to patients with suspicion of malignancy, and still, the rate of infection among pulmonologists is high which has further limited available operators
The general respiratory patients with chronic diseases have been lost to follow up and now prefer to stay home until an emergency develop, which has cost us a lot in term of poor control
the explosion of covid cases has necessitated opening more wards and this add strain on the staff and has closed many clinics