COVID-19 in a single large UK rheumatology centre and impact on QOL [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COVID-19 prevalence in a single large UK rheumatology centre and the impact on quality of life from stringent social distancing
IRAS ID
285531
Contact name
James Bateman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat to rheumatology patients. National advice for patients to ‘shield’ is based on risk stratification of therapies and other risk factors. While the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the rheumatological population is largely unknown large case registries are beginning to show potential drug treatment interactions. Strict self-isolation (shielding) has been recommended for those deemed ‘high risk’ although its impact on the likelihood of COVID-19 infection and health related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear.
Our study aims to explore how this unprecedented situation has impacted our patients primarily evaluating prevalence of the infection, effect of stringent social distancing (shielding) and Quality of Life (QOL). We seek to do this via a voluntary questionnaire, sent via SMS messaging to our existing rheumatology follow up cohort (N~7,911), using use the Royal Wolverhampton Institution SurveyMonkey system. The first survey having been sent as part of an on-going service evaluation being conducted within the rheumatology department at RWT.
We have provisionally found, 1-week after releasing the 1st survey, that while mortality from COVID-19 was similar in our cohort to the local population infection with COVID in this cohort was associated with significantly poorer mental but not physical health (assessed using the short form 12 questionnaire). Adherence to strict shielding was high in the high-risk patients but infection rates were similar between shielding and non-shielding patients. Shielding was associated with deterioration in mental and physical HRQoL scores. We feel this needs further investigation to support public health policy moving forward. In addition we aim to expand on these findings to explore whether rheumatology services need further consideration of mental and physical status of those isolating.We aim to further these provisional findings in a formal study by sending 2-further surveys 6- monthly (following the date of the 1st survey release).
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/4882
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion