Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on uveitis patient care.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed practice of medicine and patient care worldwide. The impact of the pandemic on patients with uveitis is unknown. We developed the COVID-19 Practice Patterns Study Group to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on uveitis patient care.

METHODS:

This is a multicentre, cross-sectional survey of uveitis specialists practising worldwide. A web-based survey was distributed through the mailing lists of international uveitis societies to assess modifications in patient care, and use of immunomodulatory therapies (IMTs),aswell as considerations regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

RESULTS:

A diverse group consisting of 187 uveitis specialists from six continents participated in this survey. Most of these experts noted a disruption in clinical management of patients, including clinic closures or decrease in volume, patients missing in-person visits due to the fear of infection and difficulties obtaining laboratory testing. Most participants initiated (66.8%) and continued (93.3%) IMTs based on clinical presentation and did not modify their use of immunosuppressives. In cases of reported exposure to COVID-19 infection, most participants (65.3%) recommended no change in IMTs. However, 73.0% of the respondents did recommend holding all or select IMTs in case of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccine was recommended universally by almost all the specialists and 52% stated that they would counsel patients regarding the decreased immunogenicity and effectiveness of the vaccine in immunocompromised patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Uveitis patient care has changed significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. The recommendations will continue to evolve as new data on IMTs and vaccination become available.

• Authors: Alexander F Vu, Shilpa Kodati, Phoebe Lin, Bahram Bodaghi, Parisa Emami-Naeini, COVID-19 Practice Patterns Study Group
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 107 Issue 6 Pg. 790-794 (06 2023) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35074784 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• COVID-19 Vaccines

Topics

• Humans
• COVID-19 (epidemiology)
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Pandemics (prevention & control)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Uveitis (diagnosis)
• Patient Care