Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Tangier, Faculty of Medicine and Phamacy of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier, Morocco.
Department of Epidemiology, Public health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Phamacy of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier, Morocco.
Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2021 Aug 30;17(3):318-326. doi: 10.2174/1573397116666201228144318.
People with rheumatic disease may be at higher risk for more severe course with COVID- 19, and the adverse effects of drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases is a major concern.
We conducted this survey to learn about the real impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with rheumatic diseases.
Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire using a telephonic interview conducted by two rheumatologists. Rheumatic disease characteristics, knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19, and impacts of pandemic on rheumatology care and patient's compliance were assessed.
We included 307 patients in the survey, and rheumatoid arthris was the main rheumatic disease. Patients had mostly moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19, and patients with higher level of education were more likely to have better knowledge. Participants respected mainly recommended preventive measures. The pandemic and sanitary containment impacted strongly the rheumatology care. Over quarter of patients noted worsening of their rheumatic disease, two-thirds reported postponed or canceled medical apointments and more than three quarters postponed their laboratory tests. Patients with higher disease activity were more likely to have lack of follow-up. Medication change was noted in more than third of cases. It was mostly stopped, and DMARDs were mainly affected. Patients living in rural areas and who had canceled, or postponed their appointments were more likely to change their treatment.
Our data are useful to better manage rheumatic patients. Physicians are encouraged to renew contact with their patients to insure medication compliance.
患有风湿性疾病的人可能面临 COVID-19 更严重病程的风险更高，而用于治疗风湿性疾病的药物的不良反应是一个主要关注点。
我们进行了这项调查，以了解 COVID-19 大流行对风湿性疾病患者的实际影响。
参与者被要求通过两名风湿病学家进行的电话采访完成一份问卷。评估了风湿性疾病特征、对 COVID-19 的知识和态度，以及大流行对风湿病护理和患者依从性的影响。
我们调查了 307 名患者，类风湿关节炎是主要的风湿性疾病。患者对 COVID-19 的了解程度大多处于中等水平，而教育程度较高的患者更有可能有更好的了解。参与者主要尊重推荐的预防措施。大流行和卫生隔离对风湿病护理产生了强烈影响。超过四分之一的患者注意到他们的风湿性疾病恶化，三分之二的患者报告推迟或取消了医疗预约，超过四分之三的患者推迟了实验室检查。疾病活动度较高的患者更有可能缺乏随访。超过三分之一的患者注意到药物变化。药物主要被停用，且 DMARDs 受到的影响最大。居住在农村地区、取消或推迟预约的患者更有可能改变他们的治疗方法。
我们的数据有助于更好地管理风湿性疾病患者。鼓励医生与患者重新联系以确保药物依从性。
