A telemedicine system in the assessment of risks for socially significant chronic non-communicable diseases

One of the pressing problems of modern healthcare is a steady increase in the proportion of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) that are most commonly caused by an improper lifestyle. Timely identification of risk factors contributing to the development of CNCDs will be able to preserve and considerably augment the health of each person and the general population. For effective screening of risk factors for CNCDs, preventive medical examination programs have been introduced into practical health care. Screening programs make it possible to detect diseases at earlier stages and, accordingly, to use a wider range of therapy options, which eventually enhances treatment efficiency and reduces the risks of possible adverse consequences. One of the possible options for the widespread introduction of screening programs is telemedicine. The advantages of the latter include reducing the number of medical errors, saving the time of a physician and a patient, enhancing the effectiveness of medical and preventive establishments, high-quality diagnosis and prevention of diseases, regardless of the patients area of residence. The use of telemedicine technologies became especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. The forced cancellation of full-time visits to the physician, the reprofiling of hospitals, and implemented lockdowns served as an impetus for the development of telemedicine in both Russia and foreign countries. Telemedicine under pandemic conditions makes it possible to closely monitor the patient without the need for movement around the city and for a direct physical contact, which ultimately assists in reducing the spread of infection.

COVID-19, telemedicine, prevention, screening, risk calculations, chronic non-communicable diseases, COVID-19