Quest Journals
Journal of Medical and Dental Science Research
Volume 8~ Issue 7 (2021) pp: 23-26
ISSN(Online) : 2394-076X ISSN (Print):2394-0751
www.questjournals.org
*Corresponding Author: Rhita Bennis Nechba 23 | Page
Research Paper
Health Consequences Of Distancing And Restrictions Of Visiting
Older Patients In An Acute Medical Unit During SARS-Cov-2
Pandemic. A Case Report And Review Of The Literature
Rhita Bennis Nechba
1,2
, Naoufel Madani
1,2,3
,Jihane Belayachi
1,2,3
, Redouane
Abouqal
1,2,3
1
Acute Medical Unit, Ibn Sina University Hospital, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
2
Mohammed V University, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
3
Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clincial, and EpidemiologicalResearch, Faculty of medecine and pharmacy-
Mohamed V University Souissi, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
Corresponding author: Rhita Bennis Nechba at Acute Medical Unit, Ibn Sina University Hospital, 10000,
Rabat, Morocco
ABSTRACT:
Background : aging increases chances of developing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2) and its adverse health outcomes including hospitalization, Acute medical Unit admission, and death.
Quarantine measures implemented impact health support of older patients, especially patients who are frail and
dependent.
Case report: A 80-year-old woman was admitted to our Acute Medical Unit complaining of SARS-CoV-2. Her
management was difficult. We discuss through this case, effects of social isolation, imposed during pandemic,
for older patients, their families and health professionals in an acute medical unit. Then we give some solutions
to improve this state.
Conclusion: We should provide specific guidance and practice recommendations in the facilitation of families
presence to allow them to continue taking care of their relatives, during this difficult time of SARS-CoV-2
pandemic.
Abbreviations : COVID-19 : coronavirus disease 2019, SARS COV 2 : Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-
coronavirus 2, ICU : intensive care unit, AMU : acute medical unit
Keywords: distancing, older patients, acute medical unit, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus 2
pandemic.
Received 06 July, 2021; Revised: 18 July, 2021; Accepted 20 July, 2021 © The author(s) 2021.
Published with open access at www.questjournals.org
I. BACKGROUND :
Coronavirus 2019 is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen that causes a disease that has been
termed the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (1). The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2
(SARS-CoV-2) pandemic led to significant morbidity and mortality and had serious health, psycho-social and
socio- economic consequences (1). Old patients are particularly vulnerable to the novel virus, in fact, aging is
an important risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 and its adverse health outcomes including hospital admission,
intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalisation, and death (1,2). Old patients admitted to ICU need to be accompanied
and supported during their hospitalization. Patients unaccompanied had poorer outcomes than patients
accompanied (3). This support, provided by family members, includes mainly related care dependency, intimate
care and psychological support. The importance of visitation in ICU and its beneficial effects of visitation on
patients and their families, has been repported in previous research ( 4). Family and patient outcomes were
improved when open visitation in adult ICU was allowed (5). But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the World
Health Organization recommends that visitors should not be allowed to visit suspected or confirmed patients
with COVID-19, unless strictly necessary (6). Hospitals have so reduced visitation, and some old patients died
in critical care isolated from their families (7). As in many countries, families in Morocco were currently
restricted from in-person visiting to keep people safe and to prevent virus spread. Also because of the limited
suppley of personal protective equipment. In this new situation, the need or social distancing and public safety