Kaitlyn D’Onofrio

DocwireNews

<a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/rheum-round-up-covid-19-may-be-ra-risk-factor-hydroxychloroquine-shortage-leaves-rheumatic-patients-in-jeopardy-and-more/">The COVID-19 pandemic</a> impacted virtually all areas of health care, whether it be access to medication, conversions to telemedicine, or a number of other changes. Patients with <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/rheum-round-up-interview-expert-weighs-in-on-trump-taking-hydroxychloroquine-biologics-and-cancer-and-more/">autoimmune rheumatic diseases</a> have been of particular concern among healthcare providers due to concerns over the worsened effects associated with catching COVID-19 as well as unauthorized delays in treatment. According to a study, during the early days of the pandemic, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often avoided office visits and frequently experienced disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) interruptions.Adult patients with RA, PsA, AS, and SLE who were identified from the ArthritisPower Patient-Powered Research Network and CreakyJoints patient community were invited to fill out a survey about their concerns and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons were made by different autoimmune conditions, DMARD use, and geographic measures of urban status, income, education, and COVID-19 activity.A total of 1,517 patients filled out the survey (RA, n=925; PsA, n=299; AS, n=185; and SLE, n=108). The mean age was 55.1 years, and most patients were female (88.3%) and White (89.5%). Geographic location did not significantly impact COVID-19 concerns. Patients taking biologics had more concerns about the pandemic (P&lt;0.001). Patients reported avoiding doctor&rsquo;s office visits (56.6%), avoiding laboratory testing (42.3%), and using telemedicine (29.5%), all of which was more common in urban locations. Of the patients taking DMARDs who did not have COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, 14.9% stopped a DMARD; nearly all treatment interruptions (78.7%) were not recommended by their physician. Patients with lower socioeconomic status were more likely to stop DMARDs, as were patients who avoided an office visit (odds ratio [OR], 1.46) or reported lack of telemedicine availability (OR, 2.26).The study was published in <a href="https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2020/11/10/jrheum.201017">The Journal of Rheumatology</a>.&ldquo;In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with RA, PsA, AS, and SLE frequently avoided office visits and laboratory testing. DMARD interruptions commonly occurred without the advice of a physician and were associated with socioeconomic status, office visits, and telehealth availability, highlighting the need for adequate healthcare access and attention to vulnerable populations during the pandemic,&rdquo; the study authors concluded.

Jayme Locke, MD, MPH

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

The Promise of Xenotransplantation

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Leah Lawrence

Real-World Data Backs Invasive DFS as Surrogate Endpoint for OS in EBC

HR Breast Cancer

Sacituzimab Govitecan Showed Modest Activity for CNS Metastases

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Latest News

Healthcare Visits, DMARD Treatment Both Interrupted for Autoimmune Rheumatic Patients During COVID-19

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted virtually all areas of health care, whether it be access to medication, conversions to telemedicine, or a number of other changes. Patients with ...

Healthcare Visits, DMARD Treatment Both Interrupted for Autoimmune Rheumatic Patients During

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe