Reducing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening: Successful Strategies Learnt from a Multi-Center Tele-Medicine Program in India.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Control of blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requires timely screening and treatment within 48-72 h. Anticipating that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic would disrupt ROP services, we devised strategies ''on-the''-go"" to ameliorate this possiblity. We describe the successful outcomes of this approach in preventing infant blindness during the pandemic.
Methods: Data on the number of preemies recruited, screened and treated in the Karnataka Internet-assisted Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (KIDROP) program were collected in a retrospective (2019, interval 1) - prospective (2020, interval 2) manner. We summarize 10 key strategies that were developed as we faced logistic, operational and implementation challenges. These included pragmatic methods of enhancing enrolment, transporting for screening and ensuring timely treatment in the outreach.
Results: The total number of ROP screening sessions was 20,598 (7,197 new) and 14,371 (5,773 new) during interval 1 and 2 respectively. Of these, 166 (2.3%) and 157 (2.7%) infants required treatment during interval 1 and 2 respectively. All infants needing treatment during the COVID period, were treated on time which was possible due to successful implementation of the 'on-the-go' strategies throughout the state of Karnataka. The fiscal equivalent of the blindness prevented during this period is USD 15.6 million.
Conclusion: The greater decline in the number of ROP screening episodes in neonatal units in government hospitals was because several were converted to 'COVID only" hospitals. KIDROP's multi-zonal, decentralized strategy, which uses non-physician-based imaging in a telemedicine network, ensured that essential ROP services continued even during the lockdown.
期刊介绍:
Ophthalmic Epidemiology is dedicated to the publication of original research into eye and vision health in the fields of epidemiology, public health and the prevention of blindness. Ophthalmic Epidemiology publishes editorials, original research reports, systematic reviews and meta-analysis articles, brief communications and letters to the editor on all subjects related to ophthalmic epidemiology. A broad range of topics is suitable, such as: evaluating the risk of ocular diseases, general and specific study designs, screening program implementation and evaluation, eye health care access, delivery and outcomes, therapeutic efficacy or effectiveness, disease prognosis and quality of life, cost-benefit analysis, biostatistical theory and risk factor analysis. We are looking to expand our engagement with reports of international interest, including those regarding problems affecting developing countries, although reports from all over the world potentially are suitable. Clinical case reports, small case series (not enough for a cohort analysis) articles and animal research reports are not appropriate for this journal.