Living with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy during the first two COVID-19 outbreaks: a repeated patient survey in the Netherlands.
Acta Neurol Belg
; 124(2): 559-566, 2024 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38218752
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) suffer from slowly progressive muscle weakness. Approximately 20% of FSHD patients end up wheelchair-dependent. FSHD patients benefit from physical activity to maintain their muscle strength as much as possible. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of FSHD patients was unknown.OBJECTIVE:
This study assessed changes in daily care received, perceived psychosocial stress, and worsening of FSHD complaints in 2020. Furthermore, we compared COVID-19 infection incidence and severity of symptoms between FSHD patients and non-FSHD housemates.METHODS:
Three online survey rounds were sent out to all adult participants of the Dutch FSHD registry regarding daily care received, perceived psychosocial stress, COVID-19 infection rate, and COVID-19 symptoms severity. They also included COVID-19-related questions regarding the participants' housemates, which served as control group.RESULTS:
Participation rate was 210 (61%), 186 (54%), and 205 (59%) for survey 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Care reduction was reported by 42.7%, 40%, and 28.8% of the participants in the respective surveys. Perceived psychosocial stress increased in 44%, 30%, and 40% of the participants. Compared to the 197 non-FSHD housemates, the 213 FSHD patients reported more possibly COVID-19-related symptoms (27% vs. 39%, p = 0.017) of mostly minimal severity (63%). No difference in (possible) COVID-19 infection incidence rates was found (2.0% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.527).CONCLUSIONS:
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted care received and increased perceived psychosocial stress in FSHD patients. However, COVID-19 infection incidence in FSHD patients was similar to their non-FSHD housemates.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Health context:
4_TD
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Acta Neurol Belg
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article