Patients with endometriosis may experience worse clinical manifestations and therapeutic outcomes during COVID-19 in western China- a case series comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a crippling, ongoing, chronic inflammatory condition. The management of these patients has been impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic, which is still controversial. This study compared the clinical therapy outcomes and psychological scores between before and during- the epidemic. METHOD: The data of patients who were diagnosed with endometriosis in the Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 were collected. The patients were divided into pre- and intra-COVID groups. The treatment results and psychological status of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1022 patients with endometriosis were enrolled, with a mean age of 33.16 ± 9.81 years and a BMI of 23.90 ± 3.04 kg/m2, of which 434 cases (434/1022, 42.5%) were in the pre-COVID group and 588 cases (588/1022, 57.5%) in the intra-COVID group. Both groups were well balanced for age, BMI, history of abdominopelvic surgery, family relationships, education level, and duration between initial diagnosis and admission. Compared to the Pre-COVID group, the intra-COVID group had a higher proportion of patients with chronic pelvic pain (297/434, 68.4% vs. 447/588, 76.0%, p = 0.007) and dysmenorrhea (249/434, 62.8% vs. 402/588, 70.0%, p < 0.001), more patients requiring surgery (93/434, 21.4% vs. 178/588, 30.3%, p = 0.002) and longer hospital stays (5.82 ± 2.24 days vs. 7.71 ± 2.15 days, p < 0.001). A total of 830 questionnaires were completed. In the Intra-COVID group, PHQ-2 (2 (2, 3) vs. 3 (2,4), p < 0.001), GAD-2 (2 (1, 2) vs. 3 (2, 3), p < 0.001), PHQ-4 (4 (3, 5) vs. 5 (4, 7), EHP-5 (20.26 ± 6.05 vs. 28.08 ± 7.95, p < 0.001) scores were higher than that in the pre-COVID group, while BRS (3.0 (2.2, 4.0) vs. 2.4 (1.8, 3.8), p = 0.470) were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 epidemic, patients with endometriosis may have reduced visits to the hospital, more severe related symptoms, longer length of hospital stays, and worse quality of life, with the possible cause being a disturbance in hormone levels through increased anxiety and depression. This provides a valid clinical basis for optimizing the management of patients with endometriosis and for early psychological intervention during the epidemic.

Does Quality of Care (QoC) Perception Influence the Quality of Life (QoL) in Women with Endometriosis? Results from an Italian Nationwide Survey during Covid Pandemic.

(1) Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and progressive illness that generates a slew of issues, lowering the quality of life of women. The purpose of this study was to look at the quality of life in women with endometriosis and how it relates to the quality of care. (2) Methods: This study is an online survey performed in Italy during the COVID pandemic using the Italian version of the Health Questionnaire SF-36 and a questionnaire for assessing the quality of care received. (3) Results: 1052 women with a self-reported diagnosis of endometriosis participated in the survey. The mean levels of Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were 38.89 ± 10.55 and 34.59 ± 11.17, respectively. A total of 77% of women judged the services they received positively, and 51% considered the coordination between healthcare professionals to be satisfactory. The satisfaction index mean was 23.11 ± 4.80. PCS was positively related to Occupation, high educational level, physical activity, and health care satisfaction. MCS was positively related to higher age, physical activity, and health care satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: The study indicated that satisfaction with health care was a significant predictor of QoL in women with endometriosis, for both physical and mental health.

[French clinical practice guidelines developed by a modified Delphi consensus process for oocyte vitrification in women with benign gynecologic disease]. / Indications de vitrification ovocytaire dans les pathologies gynécologiques bénignes : conseils de bonne pratique du CNGOF après étude de consensus par méthode Delphi.

OBJECTIVES: To provide clinical practice guidelines about fertility preservation (FP) for women with benign gynecologic disease (BGD) developed by a modified Delphi consensus process for oocyte vitrification in women with benign gynecologic disease. METHODS: A steering committee composed of 14 healthcare professionals and a patient representative with lived experience of endometriosis identified 42 potential practices related to FP for BGD. Then 114 key stakeholders including various healthcare professionals (n=108) and patient representatives (n=6) were asked to participate in a modified Delphi process via two online survey rounds from February to September 2020 and a final meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this final meeting to reach consensus was held as a videoconference in November 2020. RESULTS: Survey response of stakeholders was 75 % (86/114) for round 1 and 87 % (75/86) for round 2. Consensus was reached for the recommendations for 28 items, that have been distributed into five general categories: (i) Information to provide to women of reproductive age with a BGD, (ii) Technical aspects of FP for BGD, (iii) Indications for FP in endometriosis, (iv) Indications for FP for non-endometriosis BGD, (v) Indications for FP after a fortuitous diagnosis of an idiopathic diminished ovarian reserve. CONCLUSION: These guidelines provide some practice advice to help health professionals better inform women about the possibilities of cryopreserving their oocytes prior to the management of a BGD that may affect their ovarian reserve and fertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The CNGOF (Collège National des Gynécologues Obstétriciens Français) funded the implementation of the Delphi process.

Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on women affected by endometriosis: a large cross-sectional online survey.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced healthcare providers to reorganize their activities to protect the population from infection, postponing or suspending many medical procedures. Patients affected by chronic conditions were among the most affected. In the case of catastrophes, women have a higher lifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and those with endometriosis have higher anxiety levels, making them fragile in such circumstances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, conducted in May 2020, we considered all women aged ≥18 years, followed up at our referral centre for endometriosis. Patients were sent an anonymous 6-section questionnaire via email, containing different validated tools for the evaluation of anxiety levels and the risk of PTSD. A multivariable linear regression was performed to assess the impact of patients' characteristics on the distress caused by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. RESULTS: Among the 468 women recruited, 68.8% were quite-to-extremely worried about not being able to access gynaecologic care, with almost one-third of them scoring ≥33 on the IES-R. Older age and increased levels of anxiety were associated with higher risks of PTSD (age: b = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.44; GAD-7: b = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.38 - 2.05), with up to 71.8% of patients with severe anxiety (GAD-7 > 15) having an IES-R score ≥33 suggestive for PTSD. Women who could leave home to work showed lower levels of PTSD (b = -4.79, 95% CI = -8.44 to - 1.15, ref. unemployed women). The implementation of telemedicine in routine clinical practice was favourably viewed by 75.6% of women. DISCUSSION: Women with endometriosis are particularly exposed to the risk of PTSD during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, especially if they are older or have higher levels of anxiety. Gynaecologists should resort to additional strategies, and telemedicine could represent a feasible tool to help patients cope with this situation.KEY MESSAGESThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the lives of women with endometriosis, who appeared to have a considerable risk of PTSD.Older age, higher anxiety levels and unemployment were independently associated with the risk of developing PTSD.Clinicians should develop successful alternative strategies to help patients cope with this situation, and telemedicine might represent an applicable and acceptable solution.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertility patients and endometriosis patients in the Netherlands.

RESEARCH QUESTION: How do infertility patients, endometriosis patients and health-care providers rate virtual care as an alternative to physical consultations during the first lockdown of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Netherlands, and how does this influence quality of life and quality of care? DESIGN: Infertility patients and endometriosis patients from a university hospital and members of national patient organizations, as well as healthcare providers in infertility and endometriosis care, were asked to participate between May and October 2020. The distributed online questionnaires consisted of an appraisal of virtual care and an assessment of fertility-related quality of life (FertiQol) and patient-centredness of endometriosis care (ENDOCARE). RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 330 infertility patients, 181 endometriosis patients and 101 healthcare providers. Of these, 75.9% of infertility patients, 64.8% of endometriosis patients and 80% of healthcare providers rated telephone consultations as a good alternative to physical consultations during the COVID-19-pandemic. Only 21.3%, 14.8% and 19.2% of the three groups rated telephone consultations as a good replacement for physical consultations in the future. A total of 76.6% and 35.9% of the infertility and endometriosis patients reported increased levels of stress during the pandemic. Infertility patients scored lower on the FertiQol, while the ENDOCARE results care seem comparable to the reference population. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual care seems to be a good alternative for infertility and endometriosis patients in circumstances where physical consultations are not possible. Self-reported stress is especially high in infertility patients during the COVID-19-pandemic. Healthcare providers should aim to improve their patients' ability to cope.

Willingness of Women with Endometriosis Planning to Undergo IVF to Participate in a Randomized Clinical Trial and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Potential Participation.

The Pre-IVF Treatment with a GnRH Antagonist in Women with Endometriosis (PREGnant) Trial (clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT04173169) was designed to test the hypothesis that 60-day pre-treatment with an oral GnRH antagonist in women with documented endometriosis and planning an IVF cycle will result in a superior live birth rate to placebo. Eight hundred fourteen women are required from 4 national sites. To determine the feasibility of using an electronic medical record (EMR)-based strategy to recruit 204 participants at the Colorado site, we conducted a survey of women within the UCHealth system. Eligible women, identified using relevant ICD-10 codes, were invited to complete a 6-question survey to assess planned utilization of IVF, potential interest in participation, and whether delays in treatment due to COVID-19 would influence their decision to participate. Of 6354 age-eligible women with an endometriosis diagnosis, 421 had a concurrent infertility diagnosis. After eliminating duplicates, 212 were emailed a survey; 76 (36%) responded, 6 of whom reported no endometriosis diagnosis. Of the remaining 70, 29 (41%) were planning fertility treatment; only 19 planned IVF. All 19 expressed interest in participation. COVID-19 delays in treatment were not considered as a factor affecting participation by 8/19; the remaining 11 felt that it would "somewhat" affect their decision. None reported that they would not consider participation because of COVID-19. EMR-based recruitment for an endometriosis clinical trial is feasible although the overall yield of participants is low. Delays in treatment due to COVID-19 did not appear to overly influence potential recruitment.

"I'm in iso all the time anyway": A mixed methods study on the impact of COVID-19 on women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in restrictions and social isolation measures, which carry mental health risks. Cancellation of surgery and appointments, medication shortages and fear of the virus itself may have further challenged wellbeing. We aimed to understand how COVID-19 has affected people with endometriosis. METHODS: Using a mixed methods design, we examined; 1) the impact of COVID-19 on endometriosis related healthcare, symptoms and functioning; and 2) the relationship between a measure of fear of COVID-19 and qualitative impact in 162 women with endometriosis. RESULTS: We found that 60% of women reported impact of the pandemic upon healthcare, with sub-themes documenting the difficulty of cancelled and delayed treatment, specific COVID-19 barriers, and the advantages and disadvantages of telehealth. Only 23% reported negative impact on symptoms, specifically stress; 76% reported impact on daily functioning, with sub-themes related to compromised work, social life and healthy living. A 'hidden benefits' theme revealed ways that COVID-19 had improved some women's lives, including working from home, and the opportunity for healthy lifestyle choices. Logistic regressions revealed that fear of COVID-19 significantly predicted impact themes (healthcare odds ratio = 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.87-0.98; symptoms odds ratio = 0.88, 95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.95; functioning odds ratio = 0.92, 95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.99). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the need to provide patients with supportive care during pandemic restrictions that leverage self-management strategies.