Remote Monitoring of Pregnancies Complicated by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus during the COVID-19 : Lockdown Using STORK

Background: During the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece we used our application STORK, to monitor pregnancies complicated by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). STORK was originally developed to predict complications in pregnancy using medical records and daily life measurements. Objective: Aim of the present study was to assess the compliance of women with the application and its efficacy in reducing the number and the duration of visits. Methods: STORK was provided in all women with GDM visiting our outpatient department between February and June 2020. All women were asked to use the application daily imputing their blood glucose measurements, blood pressure measurements, results of blood tests and reports of fetal ultrasounds. The attending physicians had direct access to those data. The number and the duration of visits for each pregnant woman was noted. In addition, the number and the duration of visits of women with GDM, at the same period in 2019 was reviewed. Results: 31 women with GDM enrolled in the study, utilizing the application until the delivery. The average daily number of glucose measurement imputed in the application was 3.2 (0.4), the average duration of a visit was 12 minutes (3.5) and the average number of visits was 2.9 (0.7). At the same period in 2019, 32 women with GDM visited our outpatient department. The average duration of a visit was 19.5 minutes (5.5) and the average number of visits was 4.1 (1.1) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Stork reduced significantly the number and the duration of visits of women with GDM.