Wearable devices for remote monitoring of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam
Chau NVV., Trung TN., Khanh PNQK., Nhat PTH., Van HMT., Hai HB., Thuy DB., Tung NLN., Khoa DB., Vien TTD., Hao NV., Oanh PKN., Khoa TD., Phong NT., Nguyen NT., Huynh J., Walker TM., Van Nuil J., An LP., McKnight J., Toan LM., Tan LV., Dung NT., Truong NT., Thwaites CL.
Patients with severe COVID-19 disease require monitoring with pulse oximetry as a minimal requirement. In many low- and middle- income countries, this has been challenging due to lack of staff and equipment. Wearable pulse oximeters potentially offer an attractive means to address this need, due to their low cost, battery operability and capacity for remote monitoring. Between July and October 2021, Ho Chi Minh City experienced its first major wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to an unprecedented demand for monitoring in hospitalized patients. We assess the feasibility of a continuous remote monitoring system for patients with COVID-19 under these circumstances as we implemented 2 different systems using wearable pulse oximeter devices in a stepwise manner across 4 departments.