Modifications in self-care, quality of life and therapeutic adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during sars-cov-2 pandemic treated by tele consultation

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation, causing intense pain and stiffness. SARS-CoV-2, as the main pathogen of the current pandemic emergency, increases the clinical vulnerability of the population with RA and led to the implementation of tele consultation. Our objective was to analyze the changes in the level of therapeutic adherence, quality of life and the capacity for self-care agency during the follow-up period of the group of patients linked to the non-face-to-face multidisciplinary consultation model during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: A longitudinal analytical cohort observational study in adult RA patients evaluated in a specialized center under a tele care model in Bogota, Colombia was carried out. Three instruments: EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ 5-D-3 L), Morisky Green Test and The Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale (ASA-R), to measure quality of life, adherence to treatment and self-care agency respectively, were administered. Data was collected by telephone interview between a three-month period (baseline and third month measurement). Ethical approval was granted. A quantitative comparison between follow up and baselines measurements was done (p-value<0.05 was considered significant) Results: Of 71 patients included and evaluated in tele consultation modality, 85.9% were women, with an age range of 90 years (Table). The most prevalent comorbidities were musculoskeletal (14.1%). Regarding the variables analyzed, the quality of life, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and mobility were the variables most affected. In the 3-month follow-up period, no differences in EQ 5-D-3 L score and dimensions were found (p = 0.659). During follow-up, in adherence to treatment, patients did not stop taking medication when they were well (p = 0.029);As well, in the self-care agency, they took measures to guarantee their safety and that of their family (p = 0.000), they changed life habits to improve their health (p = 0.004) and they looked for betterways to take care of themselves (p = 0.026). Conclusion: The teleconsultation implemented in patients with RA during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a high degree of acceptability, found significant changes in the variables of adherence to treatment and self-care agency and without significant changes in quality of life. This study provides new findings in the evaluation of the tele-assisted monitoring model in the context of a health emergency due to COVID-19 in Latin-American RA patients.