Back to Search Start Over

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and COVID-19 Pandemic: Good Compliance With Treatment, Reluctance to Return to School

Authors :
Baptiste Quéré
Irene Lemelle
Anne Lohse
Pascal Pillet
Julie Molimard
Olivier Richer
Christelle Sordet
Véronique Despert
Linda Rossi-Semerano
Charlotte Borocco
Isabelle Kone-Paut
Elisabeth Gervais
Dewi Guellec
Valérie Devauchelle-Pensec
Source :
Frontiers in Medicine, Vol 8 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.

Abstract

Objective: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has induced an exceptional sanitary crisis, potentially having an impact on treatment continuation, for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies. After national lockdowns, many patients were also concerned about their safety at school. We evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the optimal continuation of treatment and on the return to school in JIA patients.Methods: JIA patients under 18 years of age, usually treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were prospectively included during their outpatient visit and completed a standardized questionnaire. The primary outcome was DMARD treatment modification in relation to the context of the pandemic but we also evaluated the pandemic's impact on the schooling.Results: One hundred and seventy three patients from 8 different expert centers were included between May and August 2020. Their mean age was 11.6 years (± 4.1 years), and most of them 31.2% (54/173) had a rheumatoid factor-negative polyarticular JIA. Fifty percent (86/172) were treated with methotrexate, and 72.5% (124/171) were treated with bDMARDs. DMARD treatment modification in relation to the pandemic was observed in 4.0% (7/173) of participants. 49.1% (81/165) of the patients did not return to school due to a personal/parental decision in 69.9% (55/81) of cases. Two patients were diagnosed positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Conclusion: This study suggests that JIA patients treated with DMARDs continued their treatment during the pandemic and were rarely affected by symptomatic COVID-19. In contrast, parents' reluctance was a major obstacle for returning to school. Therefore, more solidified school reopening strategies should be developed.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2296858X
Volume :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.6b994409f15049c9ad94b6bf94f53da7
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.743815