Understanding COVID-19's Effects on Liver Disease Patients and Telehealth Care

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient outcomes, telehealth care delivery, and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use in vulnerable patients with advanced liver disease across two healthcare systems

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11026454

This project looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic changed care and health for patients with advanced liver disease, especially those with alcohol-related issues, and how telehealth played a role.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11026454 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We want to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected patients with advanced liver disease, particularly those who also struggle with unhealthy alcohol use. The pandemic disrupted traditional healthcare, and we are looking at how this impacted patient health and access to care. We are also examining the widespread use of telehealth during this time to see how it influenced the care these vulnerable patients received. Our goal is to learn how to better support and manage patients with advanced liver disease during public health crises and beyond.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research are patients with advanced chronic liver disease, particularly those with a history of unhealthy alcohol use, who received care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not a fit: Patients without advanced liver disease or those who did not experience care disruptions or telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to deliver care and improve health outcomes for vulnerable patients with advanced liver disease, especially during challenging times like a pandemic.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific impact of COVID-19 on this patient group and telehealth use is novel, studies on healthcare disparities and the effectiveness of alcohol cessation interventions have shown success in other contexts.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alcoholic Liver Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.