Santosh Sinha - Associate Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Awdesh Sharma - Associate Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Mahmodullah Razi - Associate Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Praveen Shukla - Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Mohit Sachan - Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Umeshwar Pandey - Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Chandra Varma - Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ramesh Thakur - Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Vinay Krishna - Professor, Department of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

BACKGROUND: During ongoing coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic, social isolation and lockdown measures were implemented to prevent spread of virus which created enormous challenges to patient healthcare. In order to overcome these challenges, teleconsultation (telecardiology) was initiated. Objective of this study was to assess outcome of telecardiology using audio/visual/audio-visual consultation among patients with implantable cardiac devices.METHODS: Telecardiology was performed (either physician-initiated or patient-initiated) among ۱۲۰۰ patients over a five-month period (July ۱۳ to December ۱۳, ۲۰۲۰) to review health status of patients to decide further course of treatment and to access their satisfaction level with telecardiology.RESULTS: Teleconsultation was cardiologist- and patient-initiated in ۱۰۴۲ (۸۶.۸%) and ۱۵۸ (۱۳.۲%) cases, respectively. ۱۱۱۷ (۹۳.۲%) patients were stable, while scheduled admission, urgent hospitalization, and death were noted in ۲۰ (۱.۸%), ۴۵ (۳.۹%), and ۱۸ (۱.۵%) patients, respectively. Next visit was rescheduled in ۹۸۶ (۸۲.۲%), while ۱۲۷ (۱۰.۶%) were called earlier because of battery depletion. Majority (n = ۱۰۷۷, ۸۹.۸%) were satisfied.CONCLUSION: Telecardiolgy is an effective option during COVID-۱۹ to minimize interpersonal contact, spread of disease, psychological stress, and burden on already stretched healthcare.

COVID-۱۹, Implantable Cardiac Devices, Heart Failure, Telecardiolgy