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- Title
Post-COVID-19 health-care utilization: one year after the 2020 first wave in Brunei Darussalam.
- Authors
Abdullah, Muhammad Syafiq; Asli, Rosmonaliza; Pui Lin Chong; Mani, Babu Ivan; Momin, Natalie Raimiza; Rahman, Noor Affizan; Chee Fui Chong; Vui Heng Chong
- Abstract
Objective: Patients who recover from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection are at risk of long-term health disorders and may require prolonged health care. This retrospective observational study assesses the number of health-care visits before and after COVID-19 infection in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: COVID-19 cases from the first wave with 12 months of follow-up were included. Health-care utilization was defined as health-care visits for consultations or investigations. Post-COVID condition was defined using the World Health Organization definition. Results: There were 132 cases; 59.1% were male and the mean age was 37.1 years. The mean number of health-care visits 12 months after recovery from COVID-19 (123 cases, 93.2%; mean 5.0 ±5.2) was significantly higher than the prior 12 months (87 cases, 65.9%, P<0.001; mean 3.2 ±5.7, P<0.001). There was no significant difference when scheduled COVID-19 visits were excluded (3.6 ±4.9, P = 0.149). All 22 cases with moderate to critical disease recovered without additional health-care visits apart from planned post-COVID-19 visits. Six patients had symptoms of post-COVID condition, but none met the criteria for diagnosis or had alternative diagnoses. Discussion: There were significantly more health-care visits following recovery from COVID-19. However, this was due to scheduled post-COVID-19 visits as per the national management protocol. This protocol was amended prior to the second wave to omit post-COVID-19 follow-up, except for complicated cases or cases with no documented radiological resolution of COVID-19 pneumonia. This will reduce unnecessary health-care visits and conserve precious resources that were stretched to the limit during the pandemic.
- Subjects
BRUNEI; COVID-19 pandemic; WORLD Health Organization; COVID-19; MEDICAL care; CORONAVIRUS diseases; PANDEMICS; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Western Pacific Surveillance & Response Journal, 2023, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2094-7321
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.1.949