DocWire News Editors

DocwireNews

Several recent studies have highlighted the perspectives of patients with rheumatic diseases regarding the <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/latest-general-medical-news/the-covid-19-pandemic-may-round-up/">COVID-19 pandemic</a>.One paper published in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acr.24347">Arthritis Care &amp; Research</a> evaluated rheumatic patients&rsquo; opinions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This single-center study recruited rheumatic patients via text message, which provided the national Rheumatology Association COVID&#8208;19 information sheet and invited patients to be de-identified participants in the survey. The survey garnered information on patient concerns pertaining to risks due to their rheumatic disease or medications, effect of receiving the information on the sheet on medication adherence, and telehealth acceptance.A total of 2,630 rheumatic patients were texted, of whom 550 responded, for a 21% response rate. The mean age was 52 years, and three quarters of respondents were female. The highest ranked concern, reported by 76.1% of respondents, was that their medications would increase COVID-19 severity. Rheumatic patients with the highest levels of concern were those on combination conventional synthetic <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/nsaids-dmards-may-not-increase-hospitalization-risk-in-covid-19-patients/">disease&#8208;modifying anti&#8208;rheumatic drugs</a> (csDMARDs) and/or a biologic/targeted synthetic disease&#8208;modifying anti&#8208;rheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD). Prednisolone dose was not correlated with concern. Just under two thirds of rheumatic patients (63%) said they planned to continue their antirheumatic medications; an additional 30% said they were more likely to continue adhering to their medication because of the information they received. Nearly all rheumatic patients (98.4%) believed telehealth was acceptable; 28.1% said it was only appropriate with infection control measures implemented.A second survey, the results of which appeared in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/art.41388">Arthritis Research &amp; Therapy</a>, assessed rheumatic patients treated with ts/bDMARDs in Italy. Patients were recruited from two referral rheumatology centers between Feb. 25 and April 10. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 cases, close contacts with COVID-19 cases, symptoms of infection, working, and behavioral and disease management changes applied to prevent infection.A total of 955 rheumatic patients received the survey (<a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/tofacitinib-baricitinib-upadacitinib-filgotinib-or-peficitinib-study-compares-five-rheumatoid-arthritis-monotherapies/">rheumatoid arthritis</a>, n=531; psoriatic arthritis, n=203; spondyloarthritis, n=181; and connective tissue diseases/vasculitides/autoinflammatory diseases, n=40); mean age was 53.7 years, and most patients (67.4%) were female. The response rate was 98.05%. The incidence of COVID-19 among the survey respondents was similar to that of the general population (0.62% vs. 0.66%; P=0.92). No severe complications or required intensive care treatment were reported. All rheumatic patients temporarily discontinued ongoing ts/bDMARDs therapy. About 90% of patients were taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease; nearly all patients (93.2%) continued ongoing ts/bDMARDs treatment. Disease activity was stable in nearly 90% of patients.

Jordana Jampel

Positive Preliminary Results From Phase 1 Trial of Dopaminergic Neuron Graft for Parkinson’s Disease

Dementia

Bradley Warady, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

2025 Hume Award Winner Is Dedicated to Children’s Care

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Distant Brain Metastases in Cutaneous Melanoma May Be Mitigated With Multiple Pathway Inhibitors

Melanoma

Latest News

Rheumatic Patients Share Perspectives During COVID-19 in Two Surveys

COVID-19

Several recent studies have highlighted the perspectives of patients with rheumatic diseases regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

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

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative 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