D.G. Fernández-Ávila, MD, Unidad de Reumatología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia;
J. Barahona-Correa, MD, D. Romero-Alvernia, MD, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Colombia.
J Rheumatol. 2021 Oct;48(10):1616-1622. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.201623. Epub 2021 Jun 15.
To describe the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Latin American rheumatologists from a professional, economic, and occupational point of view.
We conducted an observational cross-sectional study using an online survey sent to rheumatologists of each non-English-speaking country member of the Pan American League of Rheumatology Associations (PANLAR). A specific questionnaire was developed.
Our survey included 1097 rheumatologists from 19 Latin American countries. Median (IQR) age of respondents was 48 (40-59) years and 618 (56.3%) were female. Duration of practice since graduation as a rheumatologist was 17 years, and 585 (53.3%) were aged < 50 years. Most rheumatologists worked in private practice (81.8%) and almost half worked in institutional outpatient centers (55%) and inpatient care (49.9%). The median number of weekly hours (IQR) of face-to-face practice before the pandemic was 27 (15-40) hours, but was reduced to 10 (5-20) hours during the pandemic. Telehealth was used by 866 (78.9%) respondents during the pandemic. Most common methods of communication were video calls (555; 50.6%), telephone calls (499; 45.5%), and WhatsApp voice calls (423; 38.6%). A reduction in monthly wages was reported by 946 (86.2%) respondents. Consultation fees also were reduced and 88 (8%) rheumatologists stated they had lost their jobs. A reduction in patient adherence to medication was reported by nearly 50% of respondents. Eighty-one (7.4%) rheumatologists received a COVID-19 diagnosis and 7 (8.6%) of them were hospitalized.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped rheumatology practice in Latin America and has had a profound effect on rheumatologists' behaviors and clinical practice.
从专业、经济和职业角度描述 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行对拉丁美洲风湿病学家的影响。
我们对泛美风湿病学会联盟（PANLAR）的每个非英语国家成员的风湿病学家进行了一项在线调查，开展了一项观察性横断面研究。制定了一份特定的问卷。
我们的调查包括来自 19 个拉丁美洲国家的 1097 名风湿病学家。应答者的中位（IQR）年龄为 48（40-59）岁，618 名（56.3%）为女性。毕业后作为风湿病学家的从业年限为 17 年，585 名（53.3%）年龄<50 岁。大多数风湿病学家在私人诊所工作（81.8%），近一半在机构门诊中心（55%）和住院治疗（49.9%）工作。大流行前每周面对面实践的中位数（IQR）小时数为 27（15-40）小时，但在大流行期间减少至 10（5-20）小时。866 名（78.9%）应答者在大流行期间使用了远程医疗。最常用的沟通方法是视频通话（555；50.6%）、电话（499；45.5%）和 WhatsApp 语音通话（423；38.6%）。946 名（86.2%）应答者报告工资减少。咨询费也降低了，88 名（8%）风湿病学家表示他们失业了。近 50%的应答者报告患者对药物的依从性降低。81 名（7.4%）风湿病学家被诊断出 COVID-19，其中 7 名（8.6%）住院。
COVID-19 大流行重塑了拉丁美洲的风湿病学实践，对风湿病学家的行为和临床实践产生了深远影响。
