Abstract
BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health, social, and economic crisis. Healthcare professionals, patients, healthy individuals, and the whole community are under inevitable psychological pressure which may cause different psychological problems as fear, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The aim was to assess the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the attitude, behavior, and mental health of rheumatic patients and to compare them with healthy individuals. This is a case-control study, 360 participants were included and divided into a patient group composed of 180 patients with rheumatic diseases, and a control group composed of 180 healthy people. Data were collected via a self-administered structured questionnaire designed on Google forms. It was sent to participants via social networks and emails to different rheumatic patients and healthy individuals. Mental health was measured by the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5).ResultsThe mean age of cases and control were (35.05 ± 8.79 vs 34.56 ± 9.06) years. In comparing attitudes and behavior toward COVID 19, there was a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between both groups regarding washing hands, going outdoors, wearing masks and gloves outdoors, and staying in their rooms. Patients depended mainly on telehealth more than usual where about 50% used either phone calls, internet or sent their relatives to their physicians; moreover, 20% did not contact their physicians at all the past few months. There was a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between both groups regarding feeling angry/irritated, inferior and insomniac. The BSRS-5 total score and being defined as a psychiatric case (according to the BSRS-5 scale) also differed significantly between patients and controls. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showed more adherence to their medications and stayed mostly at home and they have higher BSRS scores.ConclusionPatients with rheumatic diseases show comparable degrees of anxiety and depression to healthy individuals, but higher distress symptoms and panic in the form of anger, irritability, and insomnia. They have a significantly higher sense of inferiority and a higher total BSRS compared to controls. SLE patients show more adherence to their medications and stay mostly at home as a reflection of feeling more vulnerable. Moreover, they have higher degrees of psychological affection in the form of higher BSRS scores. Abandoning drug purchasing without medical prescription is necessary in Egypt to protect our patients from unnecessary drug shortages adding to their fear and anxiety. Mental health should be addressed in the same manner we deal with the infectious disease itself, being of no less importance. Mental health professionals, social workers, and support groups need to provide psychological support to vulnerable populations, including patients with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists should be aware of the need for psychiatric consultation for their patients whenever necessary.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health, social, and economic crisis
Mental health should be addressed in the same manner we deal with the infectious disease itself, being of no less importance
Rheumatologists should be aware of the need for psychiatric consultation for their patients whenever necessary
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global health, social, and economic crisis. The aim was to assess the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the attitude, behavior, and mental health of rheumatic patients and to compare them with healthy individuals. Patients with rheumatic diseases—those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjogren’s disease, inflammatory myositis, fibromyalgia, or others—are considered at greater risk both due to their chronic illnesses and use of immunosuppressive drugs [15]. They are facing many issues- drug shortages, difficulties reaching clinics or hospitals, and hazards of physical inactivity staying at home. The American College of Rheumatology [ACR] Issues COVID-19 Treatment Guidance for Rheumatic Disease Patients recommended the reduction of the number of health care encounters; laboratory monitoring less frequently, using telehealth, and increasing intervals between intravenous doses and they set the basis for when to start, stop, or reduce medications [18]
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