[Assessment and follow-up of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the first pandemic wave in an urban area of Andalusia (Spain)].

Abstract

To know the characteristics of the initial care and telephone follow-up of patients with suspected COVID-19 in the first wave of the pandemic. Observational, retrospective (audit of medical records). Urban Primary Care Center of Andalusia (Spain). Probable cases of SARS-CoV-2 (from 20/03/15 to 20/06/15). Initial medical assessment (place and modality) and telephone follow-up (number of calls and duration). Sociodemographic variables (including family structure). Clinical course (symptoms, vulnerability, tests, hospital admission and outcome). Three hundred one patients (51.5±17.8 years; 23% vulnerable people; 17% non-nuclear family structure). First assessment in Primary Care by phone (59.8%) and face-to-face (25.2%). At the hospital emergency department (11%), patients were more frequently from non-nuclear families (P Population chose to be attended in Primary Care during the pandemic first wave, above all by phone. Telephone follow-up was well accepted and useful to select patients with serious complications. Initial medical assessment in the hospital emergency department was related to a lack of social support but not with greater clinical severity.