Abstract Body

Background

The tracker is a figure that has existed for decades used in Public Health (PH) for identifying and stopping chains of transmission of infections. In Catalonia, they have been incorporated after the appearance of COVID-19 as a strategic element to stop the pandemic.

Method

After first pandemic wave, the figure of the COVID manager (CM) was incorporated into the Primary Care (PC) teams. In our 3 urban centers 7 CMs are incorporated. They are professionals with a non-healthcare profile specifically trained to:

Identification and contact lists

Isolation and quarantine information

Assessment of the suitability of the follow-up

They enter the data in a common computer tool with PH. They also work with PC's computer program.

Join weekly follow-up meetings.

Results

The incorporation of the COVID manager in the PC facilitates identification of cases, contacts and the detection of outbreaks.

It allows those diagnosed and their contacts to receive information to avoid new infections and helps close contacts to protect their health and identify the appearance of symptoms.

Their relationship with the healthcare team in the recognition and monitoring of symptoms facilitates the management. It is the communication link between the PC team and PH thanks to the computer system.

Weekly meetings facilitate ongoing training and problem detection and correction.

Conclusions

Addressing the pandemic requires the use of new strategies. The incorporation of the COVID manager in PC has been essential in the detection of cases, the control of close contacts and the dissemination of health information. Their ongoing training, interrelation with the healthcare team and the link with PH facilitate pandemic management.

Abstract Body

Background and purpose:

COVID-19 has posed a challenge to Primary Care (PC). This study aims to describe the resources required by patients who were seen in an urban PC center during the first epidemic wave.

Methods:

Retrospective descriptive study on a patients cohort seen in a PC center in Barcelona. All patients included presented symptoms compatible with possible or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, between 24th February and 30th May, 2020. Data collected from electronic medical record and by telephone interview were evaluated.

Results:

518 patients were included. 283 (54.6%) were women. Mean age was 50.2 years. Patients took a mean of 3.7±4.7 days to contact the healthcare system. 71.8% contacted PC as their first option. 55.25% required medical work leave. The mean number of days of sickness leave was 35.8±26.4. Doctors made 5.2±4.5 phone calls per patient and nurses made 3±3.7. 137(26.4%) required face-to-face assessment, with 0.4 (range 0-4) visits per patient. 24 (4.6%) required home visits, with 0.1 (range 0-3) visits per patient. 4.2% were seen by the centre's social worker. 31.5% were seen in the hospital emergency department. 20.1% required hospital admission. 2.7% required intensive care. The mean number of days of hospitalization was 15.5±13.7 (range 1-76). 1.7% required admission to a socio-health care centre. 4.6% were admitted to a medicalised hotel.

Conclusions:

PC is the most frequently management resource used by COVID-19 patients. Most of them required exclusive outpatient follow-up. The vast majority could be managed by telephone. The epidemic resulted in high absenteeism from work during the first wave.

Abstract Body

Background and purpose:

COVID-19 has posed a challenge for Primary Care (PC). This study aims to describe the characteristics, symptoms and evolution of patients seen in a PC centre during the first epidemic wave.

Methods:

Retrospective descriptive study on a patients cohort seen in a PC center in Barcelona. All patients included presented symptoms compatible with possible or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, between 24th February and 30th May, 2020. Data collected from electronic medical record and by telephone interview were evaluated.

Results:

518 patients were included. 283 (54.6%) were women. Mean age was 50.2 years. 81.9% were Spanish. 35.1% had occupational exposure to COVID-19. 38.8% had no previous pathological history. Among those with medical history: 19.3% hypertension, 17.8% obesity, 9.5% diabetes, 8.5% cancer, 7.3% anxiety/depression, 6.4% asthma. 45.2% were not on any chronic medication.

The presenting symptoms were: fever 75.7%, cough 72.0%, malaise 70.0%, asthenia 65.6%, arthromyalgia 53.2%, headache 51.1%, dyspnoea 38.9%, anosmia/dysgeusia 37.7%, diarrhoea 37.2%, odynophagia 31.1%, chills 25.3%, nasal congestion 23.6%, expectoration 22.2%, chest pain 22.1%, nausea/vomiting 16.8%, dizziness 14.2%, conjunctivitis 6.2%, haemoptysis 2.9%. The mean number of days with fever 7.1±6.9.

Complications developed were: pneumonia (21.4%), anxiety/depression (6.4%), acute kidney injury (1.5%), PTE (1.2%) and pericarditis (1%).

Mortality was 2.3%. 84.7% recovered completely, 2.3% had sequelae and 10.6% were recovering at the end of the study.

Conclusions:

A significant proportion of patients in the first COVID-19 wave were occupationally exposed to the infection. Most had relevant pathological history. Predominant symptoms were fever, cough, malaise and asthenia. Over 85% of patients made a complete recovery.