The racial/ethnic and sociocultural aspects of the pandemic in rheumatology

Health Disparities in Rheumatology in the United States

Objective

Underserved populations are often at risk of experiencing systematic healthcare disparities. Existing disparities in care access, quality of care received, and treatment outcomes among patients with rheumatic disease are not well understood.

Methods

We conducted a targeted literature review to understand disparities in health outcomes, treatment patterns, and healthcare management faced by rheumatology patients in the United States, with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Results

The findings of this review indicate that disparities in RA, PsA, and AS affect several historically underserved populations, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, persons with lower socioeconomic status (SES), persons experiencing homelessness, and patients with Medicare or Medicaid insurance types. The disparities experienced by these populations include greater disease activity and severity, decreased or delayed access to specialist care, decreased likelihood of receiving advanced therapeutics, and worse clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

To provide equitable healthcare for all patients with RA, PsA, and AS, multiple closely linked health disparities must be addressed. Possible solutions include partnerships between healthcare systems and community-based organizations, targeted outreach tailored to patients with low SES, interventions to improve patient adherence and knowledge, and interventions to improve access to care for rural-residing and unhoused patients. In all, the findings of this literature review underscore the need for mitigation of health disparities in rheumatology care and may serve as a foundation for developing strategies to reduce disparities.

Perception of risk and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with rheumatic diseases: a case-control study

Objectives

Risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic may affect chronic disease outcomes among patients with rheumatic diseases (RD). To describe and compare the perception of risk and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with RD from two health care centers compared with a control group.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study was conducted. Patient respondents completed an online survey to measure risk perception and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The case group consisted of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RD, coming from two third-level health care centers. The control group was a population group without RD from a public university.

Results

A total of 3944 participants were included: 986 patients with an RD (cases) from the two hospital centers and 2958 controls without RD. A greater perception of risk severity and perception of contagion was observed in the group of patients with RD, OR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.44‒2.01 and OR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.79‒2.23, respectively; more significant deterioration in family life OR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.01‒1.29; greater economic impact, OR 3.94, 95% CI 3.48‒4.46; as well as negative emotions and feelings (alarmed, anxiety, depression, confusion, fear, isolation, and discrimination). This impact was maintained when the model was adjusted for comorbidities.

Conclusion

In the face of an unexpected and catastrophic event such as the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with RD report apparently greater impact on their mental state and economic situation than the control population, as well as increased perception of discrimination.

Key Points • The multidisciplinary analyses of risk perception are required to promote actions that can enhance the preparedness and responses of public efforts for possible future pandemics in a way that considers the specific needs of vulnerable people like patients with rheumatic diseases. • Identifying risk perceptions of possible effects of the pandemic, sources of communication, and opinions is essential to ensure self-care in rheumatic disease. • The impact of COVID-19 has been much greater for people with rheumatic disease, especially in terms of the perceived severity of the pandemic, impacts on family and economy, preventive behaviors, and uncertainty.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10067-022-06257-1.

COVID-19 and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: effect of disease and treatment on COVID-19 outcomes and vaccine responses

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases were considered to be at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19. Data collected over the past year, however, suggest that a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, psoriasis, or inflammatory bowel diseases does not increase risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 compared with people without these diseases. Furthermore, substantial data suggest that certain medications frequently used in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, in particular cytokine inhibitors, might even lower the risk for severe COVID-19. Conversely, glucocorticoids and potentially B-cell-depleting treatments seem to worsen COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, the first data on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with these diseases suggest that tolerability of vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is good, although the immune response to vaccination can be somewhat reduced in this patient group, particularly those taking methotrexate or CD20-targeted treatment.