Alina Hieke (Bochum / DE), Marie Spenner (Bochum / DE), Fynn Schmitz (Bochum / DE), Aurelian Schumacher (Bochum / DE), Maximilian Schröder (Bochum / DE), Rafael Klimas (Bochum / DE), Melissa Sgodzai (Bochum / DE), Jil Brünger (Bochum / DE), Dr. Thomas Grüter (Bochum / DE), Prof. Ralf Gold (Bochum / DE), PD Kalliopi Pitarokoili (Bochum / DE), Dr. Anna Lena Fisse (Bochum / DE), Dr. Jeremias Motte (Bochum / DE)
Abstract-Text (inkl. Referenzen)
Introduction
COVID-19 pandemic is especially compromising for patients with severe conditions like autoimmune diseases and receiving an immunomodulatory treatment. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal changes in the health care of patients with immunemediated neuropathies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional survey using questionnaires in a prospective cohort of patients with immunemediated neuropathies at two timepoints of the pandemic: May-July 2021 and May-July 2022.
Results
The cohort consisted of 73 patients (55 male), mean age 61 years.
In 2021, 19% of patients reported a reduced number of physician-patient-contacts, while only 14% reported this in 2022. However, the overall health-care situation worsened from 2021 to 2022. 15% reported reduced overall health-care situation in 2021, and 26% in 2022. Switching of immunomodulatory treatment and stretching of treatment intervals occurred more often in 2022 than in 2021. In 2021, 29% of patients reported absence of physio-/ergotherapy, while 34% reported this in 2022.
Only 18 COVID-19-infections occurred overall, with usual but only mild symptoms.
Conclusion
COVID-19 pandemic has a strong impact on patients with immunemediated neuropathies. Despite relaxations of COVID-19 restrictions, the health-care situation of patients worsened from 2021 to 2022, probably due to changes in treatment and reduced physio-/ergotherapy.