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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on the management of patients with liver diseases: A national survey by the Italian association for the study of the Liver
Sara MontagneseAlessio AghemoFrancesco Paolo RussoFrancesca Romana PonzianiSalvatore PettaMario MasaroneAssociazione Italiana Studio Fegatosubject
Liver CirrhosisLiver disease0302 clinical medicineSurveys and QuestionnairesPandemicAmbulatory CareMass ScreeningParacentesisViralChronicLiver DiseasesLiver NeoplasmsGastroenterologyHepatology Covid-19 SARS COV-2Hepatitis BHepatitis CHospitalizationCovid-19; Hepatology; SARS COV-2Italy030220 oncology & carcinogenesis030211 gastroenterology & hepatologyCoronavirus Infectionsmedicine.medical_specialtyCarcinoma HepatocellularCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Pneumonia ViralEsophageal and Gastric VaricesAntiviral AgentsArticle03 medical and health sciencesBetacoronavirusHepatitis B ChronicInternal medicinemedicineHumansPandemicsMass screeningQuality of Health CareHepatologybusiness.industrySARS-CoV-2SARS COV-2CarcinomaOutbreakCOVID-19HepatocellularPneumoniaHepatitis C ChronicHepatologymedicine.diseaseNorthern italyLiver TransplantationEmergency medicineChronic DiseaseCovid-19; Hepatology; SARS COV-2; Ambulatory Care; Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Carcinoma Hepatocellular; Chronic Disease; Coronavirus Infections; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Gastroenterology; Hepatitis B Chronic; Hepatitis C Chronic; Hospitalization; Humans; Italy; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Transplantation; Mass Screening; Pandemics; Paracentesis; Pneumonia Viral; Quality of Health Care; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnairesbusinessdescription
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on national and regional health systems. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the quality of care for patients with liver disease is still unknown. Aims The Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF) conducted a survey to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on hepatology units activities in Italy. Methods A prospective web-based survey was proposed to all AISF active members. The survey was available online from April 8 2020, to May 3 2020, (lockdown phase in Italy). Results 194 AISF members answered the questionnaire, most of whom were specialists in Gastroenterology (41%) or Internal Medicine (28%), and worked in Northern Italy (51%). 26% of hepatology wards had been converted into COVID-19 wards, and 33% had bed reductions. All hepatological activities, including the management of patients with decompensated liver disease, liver transplant and HCC had been significantly reduced/stopped. The number of physicians answering that their practices had not been modified ranged between 0.6% (for chronic hepatitis) to 47% (for the execution of paracentesis). The recorded answers were consistent among different regions, and did not show any north-south gradient Conclusion COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted on hepatological clinical activity. This survey can serve as a basis to compare the impact of future measures aimed at delivering an acceptable level of liver care during a national pandemic or crisis.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-09-01 |