Clinical Dialogue: Managing Ambulatory Patients with COVID-19: Simplifying Outpatient Treatment Recommendations: Diagnosis, Testing, and Risk Factors for Progression to Severe COVID-19

COVID-19 has and continues to have an impact on patients, families, and society as a whole in many direct and indirect ways. With more time to study SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 we now have a fuller understanding of the factors that place patients at higher risk of progression to severe COVID-19. Several studies have shown that patient characteristics such as age, male gender, certain race/ethnicities, and specific co-morbidities are associated with worse outcomes. Both diabetes and hypertension are most strongly linked with increased mortality. This is the first of three modules on the outpatient management of patients with COVID-19. The focus of this first module is on diagnosis, testing, and risk factors for progression to severe disease.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the PA should be better able to:
 
  • Use knowledge of key COVID-19 co-morbidities and patient-specific characteristics that affect associated morbidity and mortality to better manage these patients

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support


Supported by an independent educational grant from Pfizer Inc.