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A survey of 9,004 patients with rheumatic diseases–both autoimmune and non-autoimmune–shows that patients may need ongoing medication advice throughout the duration of the pandemic.
The results of this study will be presented by Michael George, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting on Friday.
The survey included 7,176 with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or systemic lupus erythematosus) and 1,828 with non-autoimmune rheumatic conditions (such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis).
Patients in the autoimmune group were younger (mean age 58 vs 69 years) and most were female (78% in the autoimmune group vs 85% in the non-autoimmune group. Among this group, 66 patients were diagnosed with COVID 19 and 353 were diagnosed with respiratory disease. Regardless of their disease status, patients in both groups expressed similar concerns about COVID-19 and exhibited similar social distancing behaviors.
Autoimmune Lupus Patients–and those treated with biologics such as Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) or glucocorticoids–expressed more concerns than other patients. For example, out of 5,543 patients being treated with a DMARD, 571 discontinued treatment due to concerns about COVID-19 (and did so without discussing it with their doctor), but this group was more likely to schedule telemedicine visits ( 38% versus 33%) and obtain laboratory tests against the comparison group.
“These findings help us recognize that COVID-19 health care concerns and disruptions are having major effects on patients with autoimmune diseases, but also those with non-autoimmune conditions in a rheumatology study. This project is ongoing. and we are continuing to collect data as the pandemic continues, ”said Dr. George. “A key aspect of what we have learned so far is the need to ensure that patients have access to rheumatic care especially for vulnerable populations. And that we are communicating with patients the importance of continuing to administer drugs.”
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ABSTRACT NUMBER: 0468. “Health-related concerns and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with or without autoimmune rheumatic disease in a large network of physicians” Michael George, et al. Date: Friday 6 November 2020
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