Psychological and quality of life effects of vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases.

To verify the psychological and quality of life benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. In this study, levels of psychological stress, psychopathological symptoms, quality of life, and satisfaction with life were compared in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases vaccinated against COVID-19 (n = 132) versus unvaccinated patients (n = 254). To this end, we used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), EUROQoL-5Q health questionnaire, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), respectively. Statistically significant differences were found with better scores in the vaccinated group in the following quality of life dimensions: mobility (p ≤ 0.010), domestic activities (p ≤ 0.004), pain/discomfort (p ≤ 0.001), and anxiety/depression (p≤ 0.005). The scores were also significantly higher in the vaccinated group for the total values of quality of life (p ≤ 0.001), health status self-assessment on the EUROQoL-5Q (p ≤ 0.043), and satisfaction with life (p ≤ 0.015). In addition, the unvaccinated group presented higher scores with clinically pathological levels in depression and psychoticism for somatizations (p ≤ 0.006), depression (p ≤ 0.015), anxiety (p ≤ 0.003), and phobic anxiety (p ≤ 0.001). Finally, participants vaccinated with the complete regimen showed better levels of psychological well-being than those who were not vaccinated or those that had not completed the vaccination regimen. Our results reflect and confirm the positive effects reported elsewhere of the COVID-19 vaccine in autoimmune patients with systemic diseases, both in terms of quality and satisfaction with life as well as psychopathological symptoms and perceived stress. These benefits increased as the patients completed their vaccination schedule.

Effect of COVID-19 confinement on the mental status of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more vulnerable to higher levels of stress and psychopathological symptoms than the general healthy population. Therefore, the COVID-19 outbreak could alter their psychological state. The objective was to analyze the psychological impact of the pandemic and confinement on stress levels and psychopathological symptoms in patients with SLE. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, stress levels were compared with the Perceived Stress Scale, the Stress Vulnerability Inventory and psychopathological symptoms of the SCL-90-R Symptom Inventory in patients with SLE during the period of confinement (group 1; n = 276) in comparison to patients with SLE evaluated in a period before the pandemic (group 2; n = 152). RESULTS: The comparison between both groups showed there were statistically significant differences in vulnerability to stress (p < 0.0001), depression (p ≤ 0.05), anxiety (p ≤ 0.05), phobic anxiety (p < 0.0001), interpersonal sensitivity (p ≤ 0.043), and psychoticism (p ≤ 0.023). In these variables, the group of patients with lupus in confinement obtained higher scores. CONCLUSIONS: The confinement and threat of the COVID-19 outbreak had important repercussions on the psychological state of patients with SLE with high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. These findings show their vulnerability to a public health alert and indicate the need to carry out a psychological approach to these patients while the state of health emergency lasts as well as to possible outbreaks of the virus.

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: Las pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) son más vulnerables a presentar mayores niveles de estrés y síntomas psicopatológicos que la población general sana, por lo que el brote de la COVID-19 podría alterar su estado psicológico. El objetivo fue analizar el impacto psicológico de la pandemia y del confinamiento sobre los niveles de estrés y sintomatología psicopatológica en pacientes con LES. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: En este estudio transversal se compararon niveles de estrés mediante la Escala de Estrés Percibido y el Inventario de Vulnerabilidad al Estrés, y síntomas psicopatológicos mediante el Inventario de síntomas SCL-90-R, en pacientes con LES durante el período de confinamiento (grupo 1; n = 276) con respecto a pacientes con LES evaluadas en un período anterior a la pandemia (grupo 2; n = 152). RESULTADOS: La comparación entre ambos grupos mostró que existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas en vulnerabilidad al estrés (p < 0,0001), depresión (p ≤ 0,05), ansiedad (p ≤ 0,05), ansiedad fóbica (p < 0,0001), sensibilidad interpersonal (p ≤ 0,043), y psicoticismo (p ≤ 0,023). En estas variables el grupo de pacientes con lupus en confinamiento obtuvo puntuaciones superiores. CONCLUSIONES: El confinamiento y la amenaza del brote por COVID-19 ha tenido importantes repercusiones en el estado psicológico de las pacientes con LES, mostrando altos niveles de estrés, ansiedad y depresión. Estos hallazgos muestran su vulnerabilidad ante una alerta de salud pública, y señala la necesidad de realizar un abordaje psicológico de estas pacientes mientras dure el estado de emergencia sanitaria, así como ante posibles rebrotes del virus.

[Effect of COVID-19 confinement on the mental status of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Efecto del confinamiento por COVID-19 en el estado mental de pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more vulnerable to higher levels of stress and psychopathological symptoms than the general healthy population. Therefore, the COVID-19 outbreak could alter their psychological state. The objective was to analyze the psychological impact of the pandemic and confinement on stress levels and psychopathological symptoms in patients with SLE. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, stress levels were compared with the Perceived Stress Scale, the Stress Vulnerability Inventory and psychopathological symptoms of the SCL-90-R Symptom Inventory in patients with SLE during the period of confinement (group 1; n=276) in comparison to patients with SLE evaluated in a period before the pandemic (group 2; n=152). RESULTS: The comparison between both groups showed there were statistically significant differences in vulnerability to stress (P<.0001), depression (P≤.05), anxiety (P≤.05), phobic anxiety (P<.0001), interpersonal sensitivity (P≤.043), and psychoticism (P≤.023). In these variables, the group of patients with lupus in confinement obtained higher scores. CONCLUSIONS: The confinement and threat of the COVID-19 outbreak had important repercussions on the psychological state of patients with SLE with high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. These findings show their vulnerability to a public health alert and indicate the need to carry out a psychological approach to these patients while the state of health emergency lasts as well as to possible outbreaks of the virus.