Vascular health and pandemic: Patients perception of vascular ambulatory care during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 shifted the attention of the non-urgent disease, increasing the perception of deterioration in health, complaints for delays in patient care and dissatisfaction of the virtual consultation. Objective: To determine the patient's perception of the vascular health deterioration, and the fact of being subjected to telemedicine. Material and methods: Survey on 142 outpatient vascular surgery consultants between April and June 2021. Results: The majority had venous diseases (VD), the others were arterial diseases (AD and lymphatic diseases (LD). AD patients worsened symptoms during the pandemic; most of VD and LD patients remained the same; less than half of them were afraid of seeking in-person attention because of a possible COVID-19 infection, but they were rescheduled in a timely manner and were satisfied with the virtual consultation without changes in the overall perception of their vascular health. Conclusion: An increase in symptoms and a decrease on the opportunity for care were found, there was no significant impact on vascular health or complications.