A randomised controlled pilot trial investigating the feasibility of monitoring patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease who have symptoms suspected of COVID-19 by pulse oximetry at home

Patients with moderate to severe symptoms of (presumably) COVID-19 are monitored at home by their GP using teleconsultation. This leaves the GP with a situation in which he/she has to rely on patients' symptom presentation and subjective assessment of shortness of breath by telephone. It is however known that patients' condition can deteriorate considerably after 7-14 days of symptom onset. Such a deterioratation with corresponding low oxygen saturation levels does often not align with patients' symptoms. In particular patients with overweight, hypertension, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases are at increased risk of a more complicated disease course requiring hospitalisation and sometimes even ICU admission.
Several weeks of home monitoring of blood oxygen levels by pulse oximetry might benefit the patient by early detection of hypoxemia, an important indicator for hospitalisation. In the proposed pilot trial, we perform an early phase evaluation of this new intervention in primary care.

Several weeks of home monitoring of blood oxygen levels of patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease with moderate to severe symptoms of (presumably) COVID-19 by pulse oximetry might benefit the patient by early detection of hypoxemia, an important indicator for hospitalisation. In the proposed pilot trial, we perform an early phase evaluation of this new intervention in primary care.

Patients will be followed for 45 days

Three times daily (and if needed any additional) measurement of oxygen saturation and pulse rate with a pulse oximeter as added to usual (primary) care versus usual (primary) care.