Urate-lowering therapy adherence and the association with medication beliefs, self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and COVID-19 pandemic-related concern in Chinese gout patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to assess urate-lowering therapy adherence and the relationship with medication beliefs, self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and COVID−19 pandemic-related concerns in Chinese gout patients during the COVID−19 outbreak. 101 gout patients receiving urate-lowering therapy were involved to evaluate adherence, medication beliefs, self-efficacy, depression, anxiety, and COVID−19 pandemic-related concerns via a mobile app-based questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. A total of 101 valid responses were included in the statistical analysis. The results showed that, the rate of adherence to urate-lowering therapy during the COVID−19 outbreak was 22.8% in Chinese patients with gout, higher than that in normal times (9.6%). Compared to the adherent group, non-adherent gout patients had shorter disease duration, lower self-efficacy, lower necessity about urate-lowering therapy score, higher concerns about urate-lowering therapy score, and smaller necessity-concerns differential. Depression and anxiety rates (3.0% and 5.0%, respectively) during the COVID−19 break were lower than that in normal times. Additionally, depression, anxiety, as well as COVID−19 pandemic-related concerns (27.7%) were not related to urate-lowering therapy adherence. In conclusion, adherence rate to urate-lowering therapy in Chinese gout patients during the COVID−19 outbreak was 22.8%, higher than normal times, but still very poor. Except for a little concern about being more susceptible to the virus, patients’ mental state is relatively good. While the country puts great efforts into COVID−19 prevention and control, attention must also be paid to the medication management of patients with chronic diseases such as gout.