Responses to CVD service delivery during COVID-19 version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the delivery of remote healthcare to cardiovascular patients during COVID-19
IRAS ID
291309
Contact name
Coral L Hanson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edinburgh Napier University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
2688085, Edinburgh Napier University Project Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for almost 18 million deaths per year globally. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first emerged in December 2019. By October 2020 there were over one million deaths worldwide. Worryingly, deaths appear to be higher in those with known CVD. Stroke is associated with a 2.5-fold increase in the likelihood of severe COVID-19 and in-hospital mortality.
Early evidence during COVID-19 suggests that people with cardiac symptoms are delaying presentation at hospital. The delay in stroke presentation has had consequences for patient outcomes, including the delivery in time sensitive and potentially life-saving treatments. In addition, people with CVD are facing restrictive cardiovascular rehabilitation services. Additionally, they are being asked to reduce the time spent in settings where they are unable to maintain social distancing. This is a concern, the psychological consequences of social isolation include an increased risk of depression, a disorder common amongst CVD patients. Recommendations to reduce such consequences include the provision of effective healthcare support. Cardiovascular rehabilitation services offer effective healthcare support for psychological issues and reduce the risks of mortality and hospital readmission after a cardiovascular event. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the redeployment of many health care providers to acute care, including cardiac and stroke rehabilitation. The emphasis on social distancing has meant many services had to consider delivering remote healthcare interventions. Digital solutions can help maximise remote healthcare delivery during a global pandemic. However, it is not known how cardiac and stroke rehabilitation services have adapted across Scotland’s, nor whether services have included remote healthcare for patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand the responses to service delivery during COVID-19 for cardiac and stroke rehabilitation across Scotland.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0047
Date of REC Opinion
10 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion