Tuncay Gündüz1, Cihat Uzunköprü2, Serkan Demir3, Melih Tütüncü4, Meral Seferoğlu5, Haluk Gümüş6, Sedat Şen7, İpek Güngör Doğan3, Mesude Tütüncü8, Yasemin Solak Çalikoğlu3, Yeşim Beckmann2, Ayşe Sağduyu Kocaman9, Aksel Siva4. 1. Department of Neurology, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of Neurology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey. 3. Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences Sehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Sancaktepe Research and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. 4. Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa, İstanbul, Turkey. 5. Department of Neurology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. 6. Department of Neurology, Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. 7. Department of Neurology, Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey. 8. Department of Neurology, Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurological Disorders, İstanbul, Turkey. 9. Department of Neurology, Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
Introduction: Various restrictions due to the coronavirus infection have affected working life globally. People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have several difficulties in social life, patient follow-up, and receiving treatments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the experiences of pwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We developed a 50-question survey aiming to determine fears, anxieties, and the problems experienced by patients regarding their diseases and social lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was released online via the Turkish MS Society website, local MS societies websites, and social media accounts. Only the answers of the patients who filled out the questionnaire completely were evaluated. Results: In total, 6008 patients took the survey, and 3255 of them completed the questionnaire. Among all, 378 patients (11.6%) were positive for COVID-19. The most common COVID-19-related symptom was fatigue (48.4%). The routine medical follow-up was interrupted in 61.4% and the medication was discontinued in 14% of the patients. Approximately 25% of the patients reported different symptoms related to relapse activity. The main concern of the patients related to the COVID-19 pandemic was the disruption of the health of the ones they loved. Among all the patients, 4.4% lost their jobs. Conclusion: Our data showed that the COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected the working lives of pwMS. Also, the pandemic changed the attitudes of patients and neurologists. Therefore, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease approach, patient follow-up, social conditions, and working life should be monitored. Copyright:
Introduction: Various restrictions due to the coronavirus infection have affected working life globally. People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have several difficulties in social life, patient follow-up, and receiving treatments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the experiences of pwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We developed a 50-question survey aiming to determine fears, anxieties, and the problems experienced by patients regarding their diseases and social lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was released online via the Turkish MS Society website, local MS societies websites, and social media accounts. Only the answers of the patients who filled out the questionnaire completely were evaluated. Results: In total, 6008 patients took the survey, and 3255 of them completed the questionnaire. Among all, 378 patients (11.6%) were positive for COVID-19. The most common COVID-19-related symptom was fatigue (48.4%). The routine medical follow-up was interrupted in 61.4% and the medication was discontinued in 14% of the patients. Approximately 25% of the patients reported different symptoms related to relapse activity. The main concern of the patients related to the COVID-19 pandemic was the disruption of the health of the ones they loved. Among all the patients, 4.4% lost their jobs. Conclusion: Our data showed that the COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected the working lives of pwMS. Also, the pandemic changed the attitudes of patients and neurologists. Therefore, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease approach, patient follow-up, social conditions, and working life should be monitored. Copyright:
Authors: B Yamout; M Sahraian; S Bohlega; M Al-Jumah; R Goueider; M Dahdaleh; J Inshasi; S Hashem; I Alsharoqi; S Khoury; M Alkhawajah; S Koussa; J Al Khaburi; A Almahdawi; T Alsaadi; E Slassi; S Daodi; M Zakaria; R Alroughani Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2019-10-18 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Tommaso Manacorda; Paolo Bandiera; Federica Terzuoli; Michela Ponzio; Giampaolo Brichetto; Paola Zaratin; Daiana Bezzini; Mario A Battaglia Journal: J Health Serv Res Policy Date: 2020-12-18
Authors: Maria P Sormani; Nicola De Rossi; Irene Schiavetti; Luca Carmisciano; Cinzia Cordioli; Lucia Moiola; Marta Radaelli; Paolo Immovilli; Marco Capobianco; Maria Trojano; Paola Zaratin; Gioacchino Tedeschi; Giancarlo Comi; Mario A Battaglia; Francesco Patti; Marco Salvetti Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2021-02-09 Impact factor: 10.422