Managing patients with chronic pain during the COVID-19 outbreak: considerations for the rapid introduction of remotely supported (eHealth) pain management services

Abstract

COVID-19 will have consequences for people with chronic pain, a large population with the greatest global burden of disease. The downstream consequences of disrupting treatments for chronic pain have yet to be modelled but are likely to be substantial. Many healthcare professionals specialising in pain have skills directly relevant to the acute response to the pandemic and so will be redeployed; others may be able to maintain some service delivery to affected individuals.