P161 THE ROLE OF CARDIOLOGICAL TELEVISIT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH POST–ACUTE SEQUELAE OF SARS–COV–2 INFECTION: STUDY DESIGN

Abstract

Abstract Background WHO defines Post–Acute Sequelae of SARS–CoV–2 (PASC) as a condition that occurs several weeks after the infection, which persists for at least 8 weeks and cannot be explained by alternative diagnoses. Symptoms of PASC are: palpitations, dyspnoea, chest pain. These symptoms require an initial cardiological investigation, but also a cardiological follow–up that could be carried out with telemedicine. Principal aim: To assess the feasibility of cardiological televisit and its socio–economic impact in patients with PASC. Secondary aims: 1) To describe the clinical, laboratory and instrumental characteristics of patients with PASC and to define the possible role of cardiovascular risk factors in the development of the disease; 2) To correlate the symptoms reported by the patients with any clinical objectivity or instrumental alterations; 3) To assess the patient‘s perception of the use of specialist televisit and its possible economic and social impact. Methods Prospective observational study. All patients with previous COVID–19 with suspected PASC will be screened. After the first cardiological face–to–face visit, patients with suspected PASC who require follow–up will be consecutively enrolled and assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the televised study group (GT) and the standard of care (GC) control group. Patients in the GT group will perform the control cardiology examination in televisit, while patients in the GC group will perform the cardiological control according to the current standard of care. The specialist televisit (booking mode, use of freeware platform) will be provided as indicated by the latest regional directives. Exclusion criteria: Failure to sign informed consent; inadequate computer literacy (of the patient or his/her caregiver). Evaluation: Patients in the GT and GC group will take a questionnaire with specific questions on how the specialist check–up will be delivered. Expected results: The use of televisit for the follow–up of patients with PASC, as defined in this protocol, play a key role for the digital transition in our operational context and, above all, for the optimisation of healthcare resources.