TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-protection strategies and health behaviour in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

T2 - Results and predictors in more than 12 000 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases followed in the Danish DANBIO registry

AU - Glintborg, Bente

AU - Jensen, Dorte Vendelbo

AU - Engel, Sara

AU - Terslev, Lene

AU - Pfeiffer Jensen, Mogens

AU - Hendricks, Oliver

AU - Ostergaard, Mikkel

AU - Horskjær Rasmussen, Simon

AU - Adelsten, Thomas

AU - Colic, Ada

AU - Danebod, Kamilla

AU - Kildemand, Malene

AU - Loft, Anne Gitte

AU - Munk, Heidi Lausten

AU - Pedersen, Jens Kristian

AU - Østgård, René Drage

AU - Møller Sørensen, Christian

AU - Krogh, Niels Steen

AU - Agerbo, Jette

AU - Ziegler, Connie

AU - Hetland, Merete

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Aims In Danish patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases to explore self-protection strategies and health behaviour including adherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic treatment (DMARD) during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and again after the reopening of the society started. Furthermore, to identify characteristics of patients with high levels of anxiety and self-isolation. Methods Patients in routine care followed prospectively in the nationwide DANBIO registry were invited to answer an online questionnaire regarding disease activity and COVID-19 infection, behaviour in March and June 2020. Responses were linked to patient data in DANBIO. Characteristics potentially associated with anxiety, self-isolation and medication adherence (gender/age/diagnosis/education/work status/comorbidity/DMARD/smoking/EQ-5D/disease activity) were explored with multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results We included 12 789 patients (8168 rheumatoid arthritis/2068 psoriatic arthritis/1758 axial spondyloarthritis/795 other) of whom 65% were women and 36% treated with biological DMARD. Self-reported COVID-19 prevalence was 0.3%. Patients reported that they were worried to get COVID-19 infection (March/June: 70%/45%) and self-isolated more than others of the same age (48%/38%). The fraction of patients who changed medication due to fear of COVID-19 were 4.1%/0.6%. Female gender, comorbidities, not working, lower education, biological treatment and poor European Quality of life, 5 dimensions were associated with both anxiety and self-isolation. Conclusion In >12 000 patients with inflammatory arthritis, we found widespread anxiety and self-isolation, but high medication adherence, in the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This persisted during the gradual opening of society during the following months. Attention to patients' anxiety and self-isolation is important during this and potential future epidemics.

AB - Aims In Danish patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases to explore self-protection strategies and health behaviour including adherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic treatment (DMARD) during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and again after the reopening of the society started. Furthermore, to identify characteristics of patients with high levels of anxiety and self-isolation. Methods Patients in routine care followed prospectively in the nationwide DANBIO registry were invited to answer an online questionnaire regarding disease activity and COVID-19 infection, behaviour in March and June 2020. Responses were linked to patient data in DANBIO. Characteristics potentially associated with anxiety, self-isolation and medication adherence (gender/age/diagnosis/education/work status/comorbidity/DMARD/smoking/EQ-5D/disease activity) were explored with multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results We included 12 789 patients (8168 rheumatoid arthritis/2068 psoriatic arthritis/1758 axial spondyloarthritis/795 other) of whom 65% were women and 36% treated with biological DMARD. Self-reported COVID-19 prevalence was 0.3%. Patients reported that they were worried to get COVID-19 infection (March/June: 70%/45%) and self-isolated more than others of the same age (48%/38%). The fraction of patients who changed medication due to fear of COVID-19 were 4.1%/0.6%. Female gender, comorbidities, not working, lower education, biological treatment and poor European Quality of life, 5 dimensions were associated with both anxiety and self-isolation. Conclusion In >12 000 patients with inflammatory arthritis, we found widespread anxiety and self-isolation, but high medication adherence, in the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This persisted during the gradual opening of society during the following months. Attention to patients' anxiety and self-isolation is important during this and potential future epidemics.

KW - arthritis

KW - epidemiology

KW - health care

KW - outcome assessment

KW - patient reported outcome measures

KW - rheumatoid

U2 - 10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001505

DO - 10.1136/rmdopen-2020-001505

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33402443

AN - SCOPUS:85099038433

VL - 7

JO - RMD Open

JF - RMD Open

SN - 2056-5933

IS - 1

M1 - 001505

ER -