Fear of covid-19 in Mexican women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

ABSTRACT

Objectives: We aimed to describe the fear of COVID-19 scale in women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) from Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2020 at the Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic from the University Hospital Dr. JoseE. Gonzalez in Monterrey, Mexico. Women with ARDs were invited to participate. The Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) was applied. The instrument consists of seven items, each with a five-point Likert scale of options. The maximum possible total is 35 points, with cutoff point score of 16.5. The validated Spanish FCV-19S version was used. Also, sociodemographic data were collected from the medical charts. Results: A total of 83 women were included 46 were in childbearing age, 32 were postpartum women, 4 were pregnant and 1 was going through menopause. The most frequent diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis in 41 (49.4%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus 31 (37.3%), 8 (9.6%) with other diagnosis (Sjogren's syndrome 2, antiphospholipid syndrome 3, and dermatomyositis 2 and psoriatic arthritis 1 patient). The demographic variables are shown in Table 1. The mean level of fear was 18.09 points, which means the fear of COVID-19 screening was highly positive. Regarding the rheumatic diseases group, women in the category of Other diagnoses had a greater mean FCV-19S score (19.0), than patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (17.45) and rheumatoid arthritis (18.8). Also, in the reproductive status classification the postpartum women had the highest mean score (19.68). Only the group of Non diagnostic yet, had a score below the cutoff point. Conclusion: Postpartum women with ARDs had a higher FCV-19S score than women with a different reproductive status. Women with ARDs and especially postpartum women should receive psychological support and be screened for symptoms of depression and anxiety.