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Schlegel M, Bachmann S. Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Management and on Healthcare Delivery of Immune-Mediated Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases during the First Pandemic Period February to July 2020: A Systematic Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:596. [PMID: 38674242 PMCID: PMC11052197 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60040596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the management of patients with immune-mediated rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (imRMDs) in various ways. The goal of our systematic review was to determine the influence of the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020 to July 2020) on the management of imRMDs regarding the availability of drugs, adherence to therapy and therapy changes and on healthcare delivery. (2) Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases (carried out 20-26 October 2021), including studies with adult patients, on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of imRMDs. There were no restrictions regarding to study design except for systematic reviews and case reports that were excluded as well as articles on the disease outcomes in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two reviewers screened the studies for inclusion, and in case of disagreement, a consensus was reached after discussion. (3) Results: A total of 5969 potentially relevant studies were found, and after title, abstract and full-text screening, 34 studies were included with data from 182,746 patients and 2018 rheumatologists. The non-availability of drugs (the impossibility or increased difficulty to obtain a drug), e.g., hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab, was frequent (in 16-69% of patients). Further, medication non-adherence was reported among patients with different imRMDs and between different drugs in 4-46% of patients. Changes to preexisting medication were reported in up to 33% of patients (e.g., reducing the dose of steroids or the cessation of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). Physical in-office consultations and laboratory testing decreased, and therefore, newly implemented remote consultations (particularly telemedicine) increased greatly, with an increase of up to 80%. (4) Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the management of imRMDs, especially at the beginning. The influences were wide-ranging, affecting the availability of pharmacies, adherence to medication or medication changes, avoidance of doctor visits and laboratory testing. Remote and telehealth consultations were newly implemented. These new forms of healthcare delivery should be spread and implemented worldwide to routine clinical practice to be ready for future pandemics. Every healthcare service provider treating patients with imRMDs should check with his IT provider how these new forms of visits can be used and how they are offered in daily clinical practice. Therefore, this is not only a digitalization topic but also an organization theme for hospitals or outpatient clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Schlegel
- Department of Rheumatology, Rehabilitations Zentrum Valens, Kliniken Valens, 7317 Valens, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Bachmann
- Department of Rheumatology, Rehabilitations Zentrum Valens, Kliniken Valens, 7317 Valens, Switzerland
- Department of Geriatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
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Butt IN, van Eeden C, Kovacs Burns K, Saxinger L, Clifford A, Redmond D, Cohen Tervaert JW, Yacyshyn E. Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in vasculitis patients. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1301492. [PMID: 38111485 PMCID: PMC10726054 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1301492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To identify the factors that impact COVID-19 vaccine decision-making in vaccine-hesitant vasculitis patients, and compare their perceptions with other rheumatology patients, given existence of data suggesting rheumatology patients may have disease-specific factors that influence their COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed adult rheumatology patients from the Kaye Edmonton Clinic Rheumatology Clinic, in Canada, between June and August 2021, using an anonymous online questionnaire. Survey responses were analyzed for statistical differences using chi-square analysis. Results The COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions Survey had a response rate of 70.9%. Of the total 231 respondents, 103 patients were diagnosed with vasculitis. At the time of the survey, 10.6% of vasculitis patients refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine compared to 6.3% for other rheumatology patients. Compared to other rheumatology patients, vaccine-hesitant vasculitis patients were significantly more concerned about almost every aspect of available COVID-19 vaccines [e.g., safety (p < 0.001), components (p < 0.001)], and feared that they could contract SARS-CoV-2 from a vaccine (p < 0.001). These vaccine-hesitant patients were also significantly less pleased with the government's pandemic response, less confident in healthcare team-provided information (p < 0.001), and more likely to report that healthcare providers had no role in their COVID-19 vaccine decision-making (p < 0.001). Conclusion Vaccine-hesitant vasculitis patients may have multiple considerations influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, including vaccine and disease-specific concerns, along with unfavorable perceptions of the healthcare system (government and healthcare providers). Healthcare providers can address some of these concerns by initiating patient-centered discussions around immunizations to help support educated decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elaine Yacyshyn
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Managing immunosuppression in vasculitis patients in times of COVID-19. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2023. [PMCID: PMC10011035 DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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Auanassova A, Yessirkepov M, Zimba O. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with systemic vasculitis: a single-centre retrospective study. Rheumatol Int 2023; 43:459-466. [PMID: 36645477 PMCID: PMC9842200 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05276-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients living with systemic vasculitis in Kazakhstan. A single-centre retrospective study of the medical histories of 82 patients was carried out based on the regional clinical hospital of the city for all admissions with systemic vasculitis in the period from January 2019 to December 2021. The following qualitative (gender, disability, concomitant diseases) and quantitative (age, disease experience, laboratory data, etc.) variables were studied. To conduct the study, the criteria for the inclusion and exclusion of patients in the study were determined. According to the results of the study, there is a decrease in the number of hospitalized patients with vasculitis in the rheumatology department of the regional clinical hospital. Compared to 2019, in 2021, the number of hospitalized patients decreased by almost half (Table 1). Out of 82 cases, the most common was Takayasu disease (nonspecific aortoarteritis) (43.9%), IgA-vasculitis (Schenlein-Genoch disease) (31.71%), and they are typical mainly for females of rural origin, who were admitted to the hospital in a comorbid state (p < 0.001). 41.6% of patients have disabilities, and the majority of patients have a II disability group. The average body mass index is 24.2; 27 patients out of the total number of patients suffer from obesity. The most common clinical symptoms of patients with systemic vasculitis were injuries of the musculoskeletal system (75.6%). A negative average correlation was found between the indicators of the level of ESR and haemoglobin, the correlation coefficient is -0.535. The patients had concomitant diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, iron deficiency anaemia, coronary heart disease, hypertension, gastrointestinal tract diseases and hepatitis. Women of reproductive age from rural areas are often diagnosed with systemic vasculitis. A high rate of disability revealed among the patients can be explained by two main factors, the first is that the patients consulted the doctors untimely and the second is that the medical community are insufficiently informed about the management of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, in particular about systemic vasculitis, which hinders timely diagnosis and treatment, respectively. Patients, included in this survey, were mostly suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but depending on the type of vasculitis, other organs and systems may be affected. Table 1 Frequency of patients with systemic vasculitis over 3 years Year Frequency % p-value 2019 42 51.2 χ2 = 12.463a; p = 0.002 2020 23 28.0 2021 17 20.7 Total 82 100.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akerke Auanassova
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
| | - Marlen Yessirkepov
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Shymkent, Kazakhstan
| | - Olena Zimba
- Department of Clinical Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital in Krakow, Krakow, Poland.,National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Internal Medicine #2, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
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Kelly D, Koay A, Mineva G, Volz M, McCool A, McLoughlin E, Ó Conluain R, Sharma M, Kerr A, Franklin BD, Grimes T. A scoping review of non-professional medication practices and medication safety outcomes during public health emergencies. Public Health 2023; 214:50-60. [PMID: 36521272 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Public health emergencies (PHE) can disrupt personal medication practices and increase the risk of medication-related harm and other negative medication-related outcomes. Our aim was to examine the extent and nature of published research on this topic to guide future research and practice. STUDY DESIGN Scoping review. METHODS Standard electronic databases were searched. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Extracted data were organised in response to review questions and narrative accounts developed. RESULTS A total of 129 studies were included, conducted across 32 countries, mostly in the USA (n = 42). Sixty-eight (53%) reported on infectious events, 49 (39%) climatological or ecological events and the remainder a mixture of terrorism, war or other disasters. The studies described several medication safety outcomes (medication-related harm, adherence, supply) and adaptive medication practices (self-altering prescribed medications, sharing medications and changing healthcare providers). Challenges to maintaining routine medication practices during a PHE included transport, finance, quarantine and knowledge-related issues. Twenty-eight studies (22%) examined health inequalities pertaining to adverse medication-related outcomes, with findings suggesting that gender, age, ethnicity, educational and socio-economic status may be related to inequalities. Research gaps identified included carers', children's and minority communities' experiences and intervention studies. CONCLUSIONS There is considerable evidence of disruptions to routine personal medication practices during PHEs and of medication-related harm and other negative outcomes. Maintaining medication supply for the management of chronic conditions is a universal problem across all emergency types. Research is needed to address these disruptions, particularly amongst people who experience health inequalities who may need additional support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dervla Kelly
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aaron Koay
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gabriela Mineva
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Monika Volz
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoibhin McCool
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Eavan McLoughlin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Manuj Sharma
- Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aisling Kerr
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Bryony Dean Franklin
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK; NIHR Imperial Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Imperial College London, UK; UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Tamasine Grimes
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Fouad AM, Elotla SF, Elkaraly NE, Mohamed AE. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Disruptions in Care and Self-Reported Outcomes. J Patient Exp 2022; 9:23743735221102678. [PMID: 35647269 PMCID: PMC9134452 DOI: 10.1177/23743735221102678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a challenge to the care of patients with
rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The objective of this study was
to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the care of RMDs patients and their
health and well-being. This cross-sectional study involved 120 RMDs patients at
the rheumatology department at Suez Canal University Hospital in Ismailia,
Egypt, in July 2020. Patients were interviewed for sociodemographic and
disease-related history. Further assessments were performed using Kessler
6-items, fears of COVID-19, and COV19–impact on quality of life scales.
Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus represented the majority
of our sample of RMDs patients (72.5% and 19.2%, respectively). About 50% of
patients reported experiencing limitations in the access to rheumatologic care,
and a similar percentage had changed or discontinued their medications.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs shortage and concerns about the increased
risk of COVID-19 infection due to immunosuppressive drugs were the most
frequently reported reasons for nonadherence. The percentage of patients with
uncontrolled disease had significantly increased from 8.3% prior to the COVID-19
pandemic to 20% during the pandemic. About 60% of patients reported a high level
of psychological distress. In conclusion, the pandemic negatively influenced
mental health, quality of life, adherence to medications, access to rheumatology
care, and the degree of disease control of RMDs patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Fouad
- Department of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Sally F Elotla
- Department of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Nourhan E Elkaraly
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Aly E Mohamed
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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The COVID-19 pandemic and ANCA-associated vasculitis - reports from the EUVAS meeting and EUVAS education forum. Autoimmun Rev 2021; 20:102986. [PMID: 34718165 PMCID: PMC8552556 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic influenced the management of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. A paucity of data exists on outcome of patients with vasculitis following COVID-19, but mortality is higher than in the general population and comparable to patients undergoing haemodialysis or kidney transplant recipients (reported mortality rates of 20-25%). Delays in diagnosis have been reported, which are associated with sequelae such as dialysis-dependency. Management of ANCA-associated vasculitis has not changed with the aim to suppress disease activity and reduce burden of disease. The use of rituximab, an important and widely used agent, is associated with a more severe hospital course of COVID-19 and absence of antibodies following severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 infections, which prone patients to re-infection. Reports on vaccine antibody response are scarce at the moment, but preliminary findings point towards an impaired immune response, especially when patients receive rituximab as part of their treatment. Seropositivity was reported in less than 20% of patients when rituximab was administered within the prior six months, and the antibody response correlated with CD19+ B-cell repopulation. A delay in maintenance doses, if disease activity allows, has been suggested using a CD19+ B-cell guided strategy. Other immunosuppressive measures, which are used in ANCA-associated vasculitis, also impair humoral and cellular vaccine responses. Regular measurements of vaccine response or a healthcare-policy time-based strategy are indicated to provide additional doses ("booster") of COVID-19 vaccines. This review summarizes a recent educational forum and a recent virtual meeting of the European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS) focusing on COVID-19.
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George MD, Danila MI, Watrous D, Reddy S, Alper J, Xie F, Nowell WB, Kallich J, Clinton C, Saag KG, Curtis JR. Disruptions in Rheumatology Care and the Rise of Telehealth in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Practice-Based Network. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2021; 73:1153-1161. [PMID: 33973389 PMCID: PMC8212120 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective The effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on community‐based rheumatology care and the use of telehealth is unclear. We undertook this study to investigate the impact of the pandemic on rheumatology care delivery in a large community practice–based network. Methods Using a community practice–based rheumatologist network, we examined trends in in‐person versus telehealth visits versus canceled visits in 3 time periods: pre–COVID‐19, COVID‐19 transition (6 weeks beginning March 23, 2020), and post–COVID‐19 transition (May‐August). In the transition period, we compared patients who received in‐person care versus telehealth visits versus those who cancelled all visits. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with canceled or telehealth visits. Results Pre–COVID‐19, there were 7,075 visits/week among 60,002 unique rheumatology patients cared for by ~300 providers practicing in 92 offices. This number decreased substantially (24.6% reduction) during the COVID‐19 transition period for in‐person visits but rebounded to pre–COVID‐19 levels during the post–COVID‐19 transition. There were almost no telehealth visits pre–COVID‐19, but telehealth increased substantially during the COVID‐19 transition (41.4% of all follow‐up visits) and slightly decreased during the post–COVID‐19 transition (27.7% of visits). Older age, female sex, Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, lower socioeconomic status, and rural residence were associated with a greater likelihood of canceling visits. Most factors were also associated with a lower likelihood of having telehealth versus in‐office visits. Patients living further from the rheumatologists’ office were more likely to use telehealth. Conclusion COVID‐19 led to large disruptions in rheumatology care; these disruptions were only partially offset by increases in telehealth use and disproportionately affected racial/ethnic minorities and patients with lower socioeconomic status. During the COVID‐19 era, telehealth continues to be an important part of rheumatology practice, but disparities in access to care exist for some vulnerable groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey Alper
- Medallion Clinical Research Institute, Naples, Florida
| | | | | | - Joel Kallich
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Boston
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Nowell WB, Merkel PA, McBurney RN, Young K, Venkatachalam S, Shaw DG, Dobes A, Cerciello E, Kolaczkowski L, Curtis JR, Kappelman MD. Patient-Powered Research Networks of the Autoimmune Research Collaborative: Rationale, Capacity, and Future Directions. PATIENT-PATIENT CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2021; 14:699-710. [PMID: 33904145 PMCID: PMC8075709 DOI: 10.1007/s40271-021-00515-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Patient-Powered Research Networks (PPRNs) are US-based registry infrastructures co-created by advocacy groups, patient research partners, academic investigators, and other healthcare stakeholders. Patient-Powered Research Networks collect information directly from patients to conduct and disseminate the results of patient-centered/powered research that helps patients make more informed decisions about their healthcare. Patient-Powered Research Networks gather and utilize real-world data and patient-reported outcomes to conduct comparative effectiveness, safety, and other research, and leverage the Internet to accomplish this effectively and efficiently. Four PPRNs focused on autoimmune and immune-mediated conditions formed the Autoimmune Research Collaborative: ArthritisPower (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases), IBD Partners (inflammatory bowel disease), iConquerMS (multiple sclerosis), and the Vasculitis PPRN (vasculitis). The Autoimmune Research Collaborative aims to inform the healthcare decision making of patients, care partners, and other stakeholders, such as clinicians, regulators, and payers. Illustrated by practical applications from the Autoimmune Research Collaborative and its constituent PPRNs, this article discusses the shared capacities and challenges of the PPRN model, and the opportunities presented by collaborating across autoimmune conditions to design, conduct, and disseminate patient-centered outcomes research.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Benjamin Nowell
- Global Healthy Living Foundation, 515 N. Midland Ave, Upper Nyack, NY, 10960, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Shilpa Venkatachalam
- Global Healthy Living Foundation, 515 N. Midland Ave, Upper Nyack, NY, 10960, USA
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