Association of Medication Access Difficulty and COVID-19-Related Distress With Disease Flares in Rheumatology Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Due to concerns of infection and medication disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, rheumatology patients at the pandemic epicenter were at risk of distress and poor health outcomes. We sought to investigate medication disruptions and COVID-19-related distress in the Bronx, New York shortly after the peak of the pandemic and determine whether factors related to the pandemic were associated with flares, disease activity, and overall health. METHODS: In the month following the epidemic peak, we surveyed adult patients and parents of pediatric patients from rheumatology clinics in the Bronx regarding medication access, medication interruptions, COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and COVID-19-related distress. We examined which factors were associated with patient-reported flares, disease activity, and overall health scores in regression models accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and rheumatologic disease type. RESULTS: Of the 1,692 patients and parents of pediatric patients that were contacted, 361 (21%) responded; 16% reported medication access difficulty, 14% reported medication interruptions, and 41% reported experiencing flare(s). In a multivariable logistic regression model, medication access difficulty was associated with increased odds of flare (odds ratio [OR] 4.0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5, 10.4]; P = 0.005), as was high COVID-19-related distress (OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.2, 4.6]; P = 0.01). In multivariable linear regression models, medication access difficulty and high COVID-19-related distress were associated with worse disease activity scores, and high COVID-19-related distress was associated with worse health scores. CONCLUSION: Medication access difficulties and flares were common among rheumatology patients from the Bronx, New York in the month following the peak of the epidemic. Medication access difficulty and COVID-19-related distress were highly associated with flare and disease activity. COVID-19-related distress was associated with overall health scores.

Depression, cognitive, and functional outcomes of Problem Adaptation Therapy (PATH) in older adults with major depression and mild cognitive deficits.

OBJECTIVES: Antidepressants have limited efficacy in older adults with depression and cognitive impairment, and psychosocial interventions for this population have been inadequately investigated. Problem Adaptation Therapy (PATH) is a psychosocial intervention for older adults with major depression, cognitive impairment, and disability. DESIGN: This study tests the efficacy of PATH versus Supportive Therapy for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults (ST-CI) in reducing depression (Montgamery Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS]) and disability (World Health Organization Disability Assessments Schedule-II [WHODAS-II]) and improving cognitive outcomes (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]) over 24 weeks (12 weeks of treatment and 12-week post-treatment follow-up). SETTING: Participants were recruited through collaborating community agencies of Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry. Both interventions and all research assessments were conducted at home. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five older adults (age ≥ 65 years) with major depression and cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND). INTERVENTIONS: PATH aims to increase emotion regulation by incorporating a problem-solving approach, teaching compensatory strategies, and inviting caregiver participation. Supportive Therapy aims to facilitate the expression of affect, as well as promote empathy. MEASUREMENTS: Depression was measured using the MADRS, disability using the WHODAS-II, and cognition using the MMSE. RESULTS: PATH participants showed significantly greater reduction in MADRS total score (7.04 points at 24 weeks, treatment group by time interaction: F[1,24.4] = 7.61, p = 0.0108), greater improvement in MMSE total score (2.30 points at 24 weeks, treatment group by time interaction: F[1,39.8] = 13.31, p = 0.0008), and greater improvement in WHODAS-II total score (2.95 points at 24 weeks, treatment group by time interaction: F[1,89] = 4.93, p = 0.0290) than ST-CI participants over the 24-week period. CONCLUSIONS: PATH participants had better depression, cognitive, and disability outcomes than ST-CI participants over 6 months. PATH may provide relief to depressed older adults with CIND who currently have limited treatment options.