ABSTRACT
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians with RA faced considerable uncertainty due to greater risk of infection, hospitalization, changing access to RA medications, and very limited access to in-person RA care. Further, to reduce transmission of the virus and COVID-related hospitalizations, stringent mitigation measures were implemented across the country to greatly reduce social contacts including curfews, limits on private gatherings and business closures. Little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation efforts in RA. We hypothesized that women and younger adults with RA would report greater impairments in HRQL. Objectives: To compare changes in HRQL prior-to and during the COVID-19 pandemic by sex and age groups in real-world RA patients seen in routine practice settings. Methods: Data were from patients in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) who completed a study visit in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (Mar 2019 through Feb 2020) and a repeat assessment during the pandemic period (Mar 2020-Jan 2022). RA disease activity was assessed using the RA Flare Questionnaire, a validated patient-reported measure of current RA disease symptoms (pain, stiffness, fatigue) and function (physical, participation). An RA-FQ score ≥ 20 was used to classify RA symptoms consistent with an RA infammatory fare. HRQL was assessed using PROMIS-29 Adult Profiles. We compared changes in mean Physical (PHS) and Mental Health (MHS) scores, and the proportion of patients with impairments in each domain (i.e., scores ≥ 55 for pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep and ≤45 for physical function and participation) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across sex and age groups (<40, 40-64, ≥65 years). Results: The 938 CATCH participants in the analytic sample with data available at both time periods had a mean (SD) age of 60 (13) and RA symptom duration of 5.8 (3.7) years;72% were women, 88% were white, and 64% reported >high school education. Most (80%) were in CDAI REM/LDA at the most recent visit prior to start of pandemic. The proportion of patients with RA-FQ ≥20 were similar at both time periods. While physical and emotional RA symptom impacts remained stable in men prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, women reported signifcant increases in anxiety and depression during the pandemic period. Younger RA patients <40 reported increases in depression, and older RA patients (65+) reported increases in anxiety and greater impacts on participation. Conclusion: Our results illustrate that while the proportions of patients with high infammatory disease activity were similar prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed disproportionate impacts on HRQL by sex and age with a higher proportion of women, adults <40, and those ≥65 years of age experiencing greater impairments in several HRQL domains.
ABSTRACT
Background: A growing number of studies indicate the considerable mental health impacts of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in the general population as chronic stress is a risk factor for the development of depression and anxiety. Mood disorders are more prevalent in RA and a history of anxiety or depressive disorders increases the risk of recurrence in the future. Objectives: To compare trends in prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in RA patients with and without a lifetime history of mood disorders. Methods: Data were from RA patients diagnosed and treated for RA in rheumatology clinics across Canada enrolled in the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort (CATCH) Study. We estimated monthly trends in prevalence of clinically sig-nifcant levels of anxiety and depression (PROMIS Depression and Anxiety 4a score 55+) from all visits between Mar 2019 and Jan 2022 and compared monthly trends in anxiety and depression in the year prior to (Mar 2019-Feb 2020) and during the pandemic (Mar 2020 to Jan 2022) stratifed by lifetime history of mood disorders. Results: 4,148 visits were completed from Mar 2019 to Jan 2022 in 1,644 RA patients with a mean (SD) age of 60 (14) and disease duration of 6 (4) years. 73% were women, 84% white, 60% had completed some post-secondary education, and 77% were in CDAI REM/LDA at the visit closest to the start of pandemic. 253 (15%) reported a lifetime history of depression and 217 (13%) a lifetime history of anxiety;8% reported prior treatment for either. Patients with a history of mood disorders had higher levels of depression and anxiety prior-to and during the pandemic compared with patients without a history of mood disorders (Table 1). Proportions were highest during COVID waves in all and were substantially higher and more variable in people with a previous history of mood disorders as compared to those without a history (Figure 1). While depressive symptoms peaked early in the pandemic, anxiety increased with each wave, peaking in Wave 3 (May-Jun 2021). During the frst 22 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of patients with depression and anxiety increased in all groups. More than half of those with a history of emotional distress had clinically signifcant levels of depression and anxiety;proportions were highest during COVID waves in all and were substantially higher in people with previous history as compared to those without a history (see Figure 1). Whereas depressive symptoms peaked early in the pandemic, anxiety increased with each wave, peaking in Wave 3 (May-Jun 2021). Conclusion: Symptoms of anxiety and depression were common in Canadian adults with RA prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas others have found that high levels of depression and anxiety occurred early in the pandemic but declined fairly rapidly in the general population1, emotional distress was not attenuated over time in this large cohort of RA patients. Individuals reporting lifetime history of mood disorders were more than twice as likely to report anxiety and depression, with depression peaking early in the pandemic and anxiety growing with each successive wave in the frst year. The results demonstrate the importance of applying a lifetime perspective as previous episodes of anxiety and depression may be an important marker of increased vulnerability and recurrence in RA patients, particularly during the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The two-year, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) post-registration foundation programme supports early career pharmacists in patient-facing sectors of practice. The experiential programme, based on an eight-element competency framework, also includes webinars, online resources, and tutor support. Learners complete an online evidence portfolio and undertake a summative OSCE. Aim: The aim of this paper is to report the experiences of the community-pharmacist participants, with a focus on the fitness-for-purpose' of the programme. Methods: This was a longitudinal mixed-methods study theoretically underpinned by Miller's triangle and social cognitive theory. Eligible participants were all pharmacists registering for the programme in Scotland in September 2017 and February 2018, all participating Welsh community-pharmacists, and all tutors. Invitation packs were emailed by NES/HEIW staff with names forwarded to researchers following signed consent. Focus groups/interviews (face-to-face or virtual according to participant preference) were undertaken at start, mid-point and exit of programme, to explore expectations (benefits, social gains, professional identify), experiences (challenges, facilitators, meeting of learners' needs) and barriers. Proceedings were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and managed using NVivo. Thematic analysis (1) was based on social cognitive theory (transferable behavioural skills and professional attitudes). An inductive analysis additionally identified emergent themes. Participants in Scotland were invited to complete an on-line base-line questionnaire to describe their self-assessed competence against the NES Foundation framework (personal and professional practice, membership of healthcare team, communication, patient centred approach to practice). Data was analysed in SPSS using descriptive statistics. Themes from qualitative and quantitative data were integrated. IRAS ethical approval was not required;NHS Research & Development approval was given. Results: 96 pharmacists registered for the programme: 18 community-pharmacists in Scotland (11 health boards);14 community pharmacists in Wales. In Scotland 15 community-pharmacists completed questionnaires: 9 expected an increase in confidence' and 11 to provide better patient care'. Self-assessed competence against the framework was generally high. Across Scotland and Wales, 12 focus-groups (involving 19 community-pharmacists), 12 community-pharmacist interviews, 10 tutor focus-groups (8 community-pharmacist tutors) and 3 community-pharmacist tutor interviews were conducted. At midpoint and exit pharmacists and tutors reported increased confidence, the ability to reflect and pride in their achievement. Barriers: included lack of protected time;workload;and lack of support (tutor and employer). There were also programme issues (practicalities of portfolio;workplace-based assessment, no access to medical records);and cultural issues in community-pharmacy (speed & safety';lack of recognition). Reasons for dropping out of the programme included: moved geographical area;too experienced;workload pressures;no incentive;no employer support. Four community-pharmacists in Scotland and none in Wales completed the programme. Conclusion: Study limitations include the small numbers, programme delivery limited to Scotland and Wales, and limited response rate to focus-groups/interviews, exacerbated by COVID19. Overall community pharmacist expectations were met, and they perceived the programme was fit-for-purpose and worthwhile. However, barriers particularly related to the community pharmacy context, may have led to the high drop-out rate. These findings should be considered as the new UK-wide RPS curriculum for foundation pharmacists (2) is implemented in Scotland, to optimise its successful delivery.
ABSTRACT
Background: Many services including those related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) care were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HCV care cascade in Rwanda. Methods: This study used data from the Rwanda Health Management Information System. We included data for all individuals who received HCV services from screening to treatment and cure [sustained virological response at week 12 (SVR12)], from July 2019 to June 2020. We defined HCV care cascade as: 1) HCV antibody (Ab) positive, 2) HCV RNA tested, 3) HCV RNA detectable, 4) patients eligible for treatment, 5) patients on treatment, 6) assessed for SVR12, 7) achieved SVR12. Results: Between July 2019 and June 2020, 1,909,450 persons were screened for HCV in Rwanda (95,899 screened from July to December 2019, and 1,813,551 from January to June 2020). From January 2020, HCV elimination plan was implemented, with an increased allocation of resources for HCV-related services. Overall, 60,961 people (3.19%) were screened positive for HCV-Ab, the highest prevalence in November 2019 (11.9%), and the lowest in June 2020 (1.47%). Among those who were HCVAb positive, 31.33% (47.54% in 2019 vs 29.1% in 2020) were tested for HCV RNA, and 77.63% of those had a detectable viral load (77.63% in both 2019 and 2020). Of 25,056 people eligible for HCV treatment (people over 17 years old, nonpregnant or breastfeeding women, patients without HCC), 69.76% started treatment (95.14% in 2019 vs 52.15% in 2020). Among 6,714 who completed HCV treatment, 50.59% (22.34% in 2019 vs 74.49% in 2020) were assessed for SVR12. From July 2019 to June 2020, the number of people screened for HCV-Ab increased, while the proportion of patients tested for HCV RNA among those who were HCVAb positive decreased from October 2019. Conclusion: The number of people screened and treated for HCV increased in Rwanda during the study period. Overall, more people were screened during the period of early 2020 compared to the later part of 2019, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic did not disrupt screening. However, the proportion of patients who received subsequent services in the HCV care cascade are still low and decreased in 2020 compared to 2019, which is likely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to plan the re-engagement of individuals who may have experienced delays in hepatitis care during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to achieve the hepatitis elimination goals. .
ABSTRACT
Background: Increased hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among people in prison (PIP) is key for HCV elimination efforts to be successful. Efforts to improve health care in all British Columbia (BC) Provincial Correctional Centres (PCCs) have been made in recent years, beginning with the transfer of health services from BC Corrections to BC Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) in 2017. However, the state of emergency declared in BC in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may have undermined these efforts. This study aims to examine patterns in HCV screening and diagnosis in all 10 BC PCCs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data from the BC Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Data Mart, which contains laboratory data accounting for >95% of all anti-HCV and >99% of all HCV RNA and genotype tests performed in BC, were used for this study. The number of anti-HCV, HCV RNA and HCV genotype tests that were ordered from BC PCCs between April 1 2011 and March 31 2021 was determined for quarterly periods. New HCV diagnoses were defined as the number of 1st-time HCV-positive test episodes (anti-HCV, RNA or genotype) among HCV tests ordered from BC PCCs. Total intake numbers were provided by BC Corrections per calendar year. Results: The number of HCV antibody, RNA, and genotype tests ordered from BC PCCs in the 1st quarter of 2020 had increased by 412% (n=486), 530% (n=252) and 827% (n=139) respectively (Figure 1), compared to the 1st quarter of 2017 (prior to the transfer of health services to PHSA). Following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of HCV antibody, RNA, and genotype tests ordered from BC PCCs in the 2nd quarter of 2020 had decreased by 66% (n=165), 67% (n=83) and 68% (n=44), respectively (Figure 1), compared to the 1st quarter of 2020. The total number of HCV tests as a proportion of intakes to BC PCCs in 2019 was 17% (2518/15303), which increased to 23% (2112/9283) in 2020. Conclusion: The transfer of health services in BC PCCs to PHSA led to increased volume of HCV screening, with concomitant increases in new HCV diagnoses among PIP in BC from 4th quarter 2017 onwards. The COVID-19 pandemic led to health care challenges in prisons in BC (including the suspension of non-urgent HCV testing in the entire province for several weeks), and at the same time, the number of HCV tests and new diagnoses decreased. This may have been partly due to reduced intakes to BC PCCs over 2020, as the total number of HCV tests ordered as a proportion of intakes increased in 2020, compared to the previous year. Those people diverted away from the correctional system due to decarceration efforts triggered by COVID-19 may have missed out on HCV screening during 2020, therefore further efforts to increase HCV screening in correctional settings and the community will be needed.