COVID-19 pandemic impairs medical care of vasculitis patients in Germany: Results of a national patient survey

Anna Kernder; Tim Filla; Kirsten de Groot; Bernhard Hellmich; Julia Holle; Peter Lamprecht; Frank Moosig; Nikolas Ruffer; Christof Specker; Stefan Vordenbäumen; Matthias Schneider; Gamal Chehab

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1103694

COVID-19 pandemic impairs medical care of vasculitis patients in Germany: Results of a national patient survey

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Jan 9:9:1103694. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1103694. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Anna Kernder^{1

2}, Tim Filla^{1

2}, Kirsten de Groot³, Bernhard Hellmich⁴, Julia Holle⁵, Peter Lamprecht⁶, Frank Moosig⁵, Nikolas Ruffer^{7

8}, Christof Specker⁹, Stefan Vordenbäumen¹⁰, Matthias Schneider^{1

2}, Gamal Chehab^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
² Hiller Research Center, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
³ Medical Clinic III, Sana Klinikum Offenbach GmbH, Offenbach, Germany.
⁴ Klinik für Innere Medizin, Rheumatolgie und Immunologie, Medius Klinik Kirchheim, University Tübingen, Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany.
⁵ Rheumazentrum Schleswig-Holstein Mitte, Neumünster, Germany.
⁶ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
⁷ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Klinikum Bad Bramstedt GmbH, Bad Bramstedt, Germany.
⁸ III Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
⁹ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, KEM Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany.
¹⁰ Department of Rheumatology, St. Elisabeth-Hospital Meerbusch-Lank, Meerbusch, Germany.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical care and vaccination acceptance of vasculitis patients in Germany.

Methods: A web-based national survey was developed by rheumatology centers and vasculitis patient advocacy groups. The survey was distributed nationwide by mail and flyers and could be accessed via a QR-code or weblink from December 2021 to April 2022. Descriptive statistics [mean, median, standard derivation (SD), 25%, 75% quantile] were calculated. 95% confidence intervals were presented for responses that were directly related to the impact of COVID-19 on parameters associated with vasculitis patient care.

Results: The online survey was completed by 117 patients with small and large vessel vasculitis [granulomatosis with polyangiitis (n = 69), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (n = 16), microscopic polyangiitis (n = 12), giant cell arteritis (n = 17) and Takayasu's arteritis (n = 3)]. Prescheduled rheumatological appointments had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 12.6% of the respondents [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.3-20.0%); in 9% (95% CI, 4.5-15.6%)] appointments had been replaced by digital services. Therapeutic regimens were changed (shifted, reduced, or discontinued) due to the pandemic in 15.5% (95% CI 9.5-22.2%). Vaccination coverages were generally high compared to patients with other rheumatic diseases and the general population. Highest vaccination coverage was observed against COVID-19 (98.1% 95% CI 93.9-99.6%).

Conclusion: Vasculitis patients experienced changes in medical care during COVID-19 pandemic such as cancelation of prescheduled rheumatology appointments and modifications in therapeutic regimens. The overall acceptance rate for vaccination was comparatively high, particularly for vaccination against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; health care; patient survey; systemic vasculitis; vaccination coverage.