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Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep center operations and sleep apnea treatment in Korea - A multicenter survey

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Abstract
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only changed the lives of people around the world but also affected all areas of the healthcare system, including sleep medicine. However, no studies in Korea have investigated the status of domestic sleep centers and their challenges during the pandemic. An online survey was performed from December 2020 to January 2021. Hospitals that belonged to sleep-related academic societies and were considered well managed were included in this survey. The questionnaire focused on changes in sleep center operations, infection control policies, and patient treatment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine and future directions for sleep medicine services were also investigated. Of the 20 sleep centers that responded, 80% were at university hospitals with more than 500 inpatient beds. During the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea (November?December 2020), the routine operating schedule of the sleep study room was reduced in 30% of the sleep centers compared to November?December 2019 (before COVID-19). The number of type 1 polysomnographies performed decreased in 85% of the sleep centers. In contrast, in-lab positive airway pressure (PAP) titrations
decreased in 40%, remained unchanged in 35%, and increased in 25%. With respect to prescriptions, 30% of the sleep centers
increased the number of prescriptions for auto-titrating continuous PAP. However, 60% of the sleep centers reported no change in
the rate of fixed continuous PAP and auto-titrating continuous PAP prescriptions. All sleep centers that participated in this survey
agreed that the need for documented infection control regulations will continue after the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of
the pandemic, 30% of the centers have tried telemedicine. However, respondents expressed concern about telemedicine, citing a
number of practical issues.
Compared to countries where the COVID-19 pandemic was severe, Korea had less impact of COVID-19 on the sleep center
operations and sleep apnea treatment. Infection and quality control in the sleep study room are important and inevitable issues, and
regulation within each institution is necessary. Further research and discussion are needed regarding telemedicine and home sleep
apnea test in Korea.
Author(s)
강현희김규연김세원김환희이상학
Issued Date
2021
Type
Article
Keyword
coronavirusinfectionpolysomnographysevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2sleep laboratorytelemedicine
DOI
10.1097/MD.0000000000028461
URI
https://oak.ulsan.ac.kr/handle/2021.oak/7244
https://ulsan-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2614230092&context=PC&vid=ULSAN&lang=ko_KR&search_scope=default_scope&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,Impacts%20of%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic%20on%20sleep%20center%20operations%20and%20sleep%20apnea%20treatment%20in%20Korea%20-%20A%20multicenter%20survey&offset=0&pcAvailability=true
Publisher
MEDICINE
Location
미국
Language
영어
ISSN
0025-7974
Citation Volume
100
Citation Number
51
Citation Start Page
28461
Citation End Page
0
Appears in Collections:
Medicine > Medicine
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