Clinical Challenges and Considerations in Management of Chronic Pain Patients During a COVID-19 Pandemic.

Clinical Challenges and Considerations in Management of Chronic Pain Patients During a COVID-19 Pandemic. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2020 Sep;49(9):669-673 Authors: Chan DX, Lin XF, George JM, Liu CW Abstract Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was deemed a pandemic on 11 March 2020, we have seen exponential increases in the number of cases and deaths worldwide. The rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation requires revisions to clinical practice to defer non-essential clinical services to allocate scarce medical resources to the care of the COVID-19 patient and reduce risk to healthcare workers. Chronic pain patients require long-term multidisciplinary management even during a pandemic. Fear of abandonment, anxiety and depression may increase during this period of social isolation and aggravate pain conditions. Whilst physical consults for chronic pain patients were reduced, considerations including continuity of support and analgesia, telemedicine, allied health support and prioritising necessary pain services and interventions, were also taken to ensure biopsychosocial care for them. Chronic pain patients are mostly elderly with multiple comorbidities, and are more susceptible to morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. It is imperative to review pain management practices during the COVID-19 era with respect to infection control measures, re-allocation of healthcare resources, community collaborations, and analgesic use and pain inter...
Source: Ann Acad Med Singapo... - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Ann Acad Med Singap Source Type: research