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Published on: December 9, 2015
Perceptions of risk and adherence to care in MS patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Yinan Zhang1, Erin Staker1, Gary Cutter2
1Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns for increased risk of infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and disrupted their routine MS care. The aim of this study is to characterize the extent of MS patients' perceptions of risk and adherence to care during the pandemic.
Methods:
A survey was emailed to patients from a large MS center in New York City during the local peak of the pandemic to assess perceptions of infection risk and adherence to MS care including appointments, laboratory studies, MRIs, and taking disease-modifying therapies (DMT).
Results:
529 patients from the MS center responded to the survey during two weeks in April 2020. Patients collectively showed concern about becoming infected with COVID-19 (88%) and perceived a higher infection risk due of having MS (70%) and taking DMTs (68%). Patients frequently postponed appointments (41%), laboratory studies (46%), and MRIs (41%). Noncompliance with DMTs was less common (13%). Decisions to alter usual recommendations for care were made by the patient more often than by the provider regarding adherence to appointments (68%), laboratory studies (70%), MRI (67%), and DMT (65%). Degree of concern for infection was associated with adherence to appointments (p=0.020) and laboratory studies (p=0.016) but not with adherence to MRI and DMTs. Thirty-five patients reported being tested for COVID-19, of whom fourteen reported a positive test.
Conclusion:
Patients with MS were highly concerned about becoming infected during the local peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Behaviors that deviated from originally recommended MS care were common and often self-initiated, but patients were overall compliant with continuing DMTs.
Insights
Multiple sclerosis patients worried about COVID-19 infection and altered routine care, often self-initiating changes. However, most remained compliant with disease-modifying therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic heightened infection risk concerns for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
- Routine MS care was significantly disrupted during the pandemic.
- Understanding patient risk perception and care adherence is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess multiple sclerosis patients' perceptions of infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To evaluate adherence to essential MS care during the pandemic.
- To characterize self-initiated care modifications by MS patients.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to MS patients at a New York City center during the pandemic's peak.
- The survey assessed perceptions of COVID-19 infection risk and adherence to appointments, lab studies, MRIs, and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
- Data from 529 respondents were analyzed regarding care behaviors and risk concerns.
Main Results:
- 88% of patients expressed concern about COVID-19 infection, with 70% perceiving higher risk due to MS and 68% due to DMTs.
- Significant postponements of appointments (41%), lab studies (46%), and MRIs (41%) occurred; DMT noncompliance was lower (13%).
- Patients self-initiated most care deviations (65-70%) rather than provider-directed changes.
Conclusions:
- Multiple sclerosis patients exhibited high concern regarding COVID-19 infection during the pandemic.
- Deviations from recommended MS care were common and frequently patient-driven.
- Overall adherence to continuing disease-modifying therapies remained high.
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