ABSTRACT
Objectives: We aimed at examining whether patients with rheumatological conditions receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy are at a lower risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 infection than those not receiving hydroxychloroquine. Method(s): This historical cohort study included information of all patients aged 18 years or older with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or associated rheumatological conditions (based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, diagnostic codes). A propensity score was calculated for each patient, and each patientwho was receiving hydroxychloroquine was matched to two patients who were not receiving hydroxychloroquine (controls). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among those receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine versus the propensity-matched patients not receiving chronic hydroxychloroquine in 2021. Result(s): 322 patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and 645 patients not receiving hydroxychloroquine were included in the primary analysis. The incidence of active SARS-CoV-2 infections during the study period did not differ between patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and patients not receiving hydroxychloroquine ( [0 3%] vs 78 [0 4%] of 21406;odds ratio 0 79, 95% CI 0 52-1 20, p = 0 27). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between the two groups of patients who developed active SARS-CoV-2 infection. For all patients in the study, overall mortality was lower in the hydroxychloroquine group than in the group of patients who did not receive hydroxychloroquine (odds ratio hydroxychloroquine was not associated with the development of active SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio 0 79, 95% CI 0 51-1 42) Conclusion(s): Hydroxychloroquine was not associated with a protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large group of patients with rheumatological conditions.
ABSTRACT
Purpose or Objective: To evaluate the emotional state of oncological patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Materials and Methods: To evaluate patients’anxiety, depression and distress, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and Distress Thermometer (DT) were used. Patients were divided into 3 groups: those who underwent radiotherapy before COVID-19 emergency (July–December 2019) (Group 1), in early stage of COVID-19 emergency (January– February 2020) (Group 2) and one week (wk) before the Lockdown (Group 3). For Group 3 the evaluations of anxiety, depression and distress were conducted at 3 different time points: at the RT beginning(1-wk before Lockdown,T0), during RT (1-wk after the start of Lockdown, T1) and at the RT ending (during Lockdown, T2). Results: From July 2019 to 8th March 2020, on 452 treated patients, 223 (49.3%) accepted to participate in psychooncological support program: 80 (35.9%) were in Group 1, 121 (54.2%) in Group 2 and 22 (9.9%) in Group 3. Anxiety was higher in Groups 1 and 2 and distress was higher in Group 3 (p 0.01;p 0.0001) while no differences were noted for depression (p 0.1). Regarding Group 3, respect to baseline (T0), all considered emotional states increased at T1 and decreased at T2: anxiety and depression increased considerably from T0 to T1 and decreased from T1 to T2 (p 0.00001, p 0.001 respectively);distress also showed the same trend, but the differences was not statistically significative (p 0.1). All patients completed their planned RT without delays. Conclusion: The study revealed optimal compliance to RT despite the increase of anxiety and distress COVID19-related. The appropriate supportive care in term of psychologic support must be prioritized for all oncological patients, even more during pandemic.