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Mental health and quality of life for people with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis in Aotearoa New Zealand following the COVID-19 national lockdown.
Johnstone, Grace; Treharne, Gareth J; Fletcher, Benjamin D; Lamar, Roisin S M; White, Douglas; Harrison, Andrew; Stebbings, Simon.
  • Johnstone G; Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
  • Treharne GJ; Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand. gareth.treharne@otago.ac.nz.
  • Fletcher BD; Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
  • Lamar RSM; Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
  • White D; Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland and Rheumatology Department, Waikato District Health Board, Waikato, New Zealand.
  • Harrison A; Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
  • Stebbings S; Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
Rheumatol Int ; 41(10): 1763-1772, 2021 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1321737
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lockdown on the mental health (anxiety and depression) and quality of life (QOL) of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures instituted at a national level by the New Zealand Government. The present cohort was 104 individuals with RA (73.1%) and AS (26.9%) who had previously completed surveys for the Patient Opinion Real-Time Anonymous Liaison (PORTAL) project in 2018. Participants completed an online survey between July and September 2020 assessing their experiences over the first national COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand (March-May, 2020). Fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection, baseline anxiety, and being younger in age were all predictors of participants' current anxiety levels. Current QOL scores were significantly lower than prior to lockdown and were predicted by baseline QOL and current depression. No variables predicted current depression other than baseline levels. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had an impact on QOL and anxiety levels, but not depression for people with RA and AS in New Zealand. These novel findings imply that appropriate screening of mental health issues should be included in planning within the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for future pandemics to optimise the wellbeing of people with RA and AS.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Anxiety / Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Quality of Life / Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Depression Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Rheumatol Int Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00296-021-04952-x

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Anxiety / Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Quality of Life / Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Depression Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Rheumatol Int Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00296-021-04952-x