Nelly Ziadé1, Lina El Kibbi2, Ihsane Hmamouchi3, Nizar Abdulateef4, Hussein Halabi5, Wafa Hamdi6, Fatemah Abutiban7, Manal El Rakawi8, Mervat Eissa9, Basel Masri10. 1. Saint-Joseph University, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. 2. Specialized Medical Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 3. Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clinical Research and Epidemiology (LBRCE), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Temara Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. 4. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. 5. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 6. Department of Rheumatology, UR17SP04, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Kassab Institute of orthopedics, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia. 7. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Jaber Alahmed Alsabah Hospital, Kuwait, State of Kuwait. 8. Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Douera Hospital, Blida, Algeria. 9. Rheumatology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. 10. Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) on the access to rheumatology care for patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRD) in the Arab countries. METHOD: A web-based cross-sectional survey was designed by the Arab Adult Arthritis Awareness group (AAAA) consisting of 16 rheumatologists representing countries from the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR) and was validated by the ArLAR scientific committee. The survey was disseminated online through social media and patients' association channels between May 8 and May 22, 2020. The steering committee developed recommendations to improve the care of patients with CRD during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 2163 patients were included in the analysis; 72% were female; mean age was 40 years (SD 11.9). The Levant, the Gulf, and North Africa contributed almost equally to the sample. The pandemic had a significant negative impact on rheumatology visits in 82% of cases, access to hydroxychloroquine (47%), and chronic medication persistency (28%). The negative impact on rheumatology visits was associated with female gender, country, medication non-persistency, isolation due to COVID-19, and impact on mental health. Sixty-one patients (2.8%) stated that they had COVID-19, 5% said that a close contact was infected, and 47% were in isolation because of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The current study highlights the deleterious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continuity of rheumatology care. Therefore, an action plan, including establishing a telemedicine platform, securing drug availability, and promoting medication persistence through the appropriate communication channels, is strongly recommended.
AIM: To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) on the access to rheumatology care for patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRD) in the Arab countries. METHOD: A web-based cross-sectional survey was designed by the Arab Adult Arthritis Awareness group (AAAA) consisting of 16 rheumatologists representing countries from the Arab League of Associations for Rheumatology (ArLAR) and was validated by the ArLAR scientific committee. The survey was disseminated online through social media and patients' association channels between May 8 and May 22, 2020. The steering committee developed recommendations to improve the care of patients with CRD during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 2163 patients were included in the analysis; 72% were female; mean age was 40 years (SD 11.9). The Levant, the Gulf, and North Africa contributed almost equally to the sample. The pandemic had a significant negative impact on rheumatology visits in 82% of cases, access to hydroxychloroquine (47%), and chronic medication persistency (28%). The negative impact on rheumatology visits was associated with female gender, country, medication non-persistency, isolation due to COVID-19, and impact on mental health. Sixty-one patients (2.8%) stated that they had COVID-19, 5% said that a close contact was infected, and 47% were in isolation because of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The current study highlights the deleterious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the continuity of rheumatology care. Therefore, an action plan, including establishing a telemedicine platform, securing drug availability, and promoting medication persistence through the appropriate communication channels, is strongly recommended.
Authors: Jenny Leese; Catherine L Backman; Jasmin K Ma; Cheryl Koehn; Alison M Hoens; Kelly English; Eileen Davidson; Shanon McQuitty; James Gavin; Jo Adams; Stephanie Therrien; Linda C Li Journal: Health Expect Date: 2021-08-17 Impact factor: 3.318
Authors: Fine Dietrich; Alexandros A Polymeris; Isabelle Arnet; Philippe A Lyrer; Melina Verbeek; Stefan T Engelter; Kurt E Hersberger; Sabine Schaedelin Journal: J Neurol Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Sophia M Brady; Sally A M Fenton; George S Metsios; Ailsa Bosworth; Joan L Duda; George D Kitas; Jet J C S Veldhuijzen van Zanten Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Nevena Rebić; Jamie Y Park; Ria Garg; Ursula Ellis; Ayano Kelly; Eileen Davidson; Mary A De Vera Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2021-07-05 Impact factor: 5.178