Poor health and functioning in patients with axial spondyloarthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: REUMAVID study (phase 1)

AIM: To evaluate the overall health and functioning in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and related factors affecting these during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures. METHODS: Data from 587 axSpA patients participating in the first phase (April–July 2020) of the REUMAVID study who completed the ASAS Health Index (ASAS-HI) were analysed. REUMAVID is a cross-sectional study that collects data through an online survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases across seven European countries. Poor health was defined as ASAS-HI ⩾ 12. The World Health Organization Five well-being index, self-perceived health status and change in health status during COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Logistic regression models were used to identify the factors associated with poor health. RESULTS: According to the ASAS-HI, 147 (25.0%) patients reported poor health. Pain and moving around were the main affected categories. In addition, 14.0% reported their self-perceived health status as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ and 46.8% as worse than before the pandemic. In the multivariate analysis, smoking (OR = 1.98), diabetes (OR = 4.89) and taking painkillers (OR = 2.82) or corticosteroids use (OR = 2.20) were significantly associated with poor health, while engaging in physical activity (OR = 0.54) and being actively employed (OR = 0.48) were inversely associated with this. CONCLUSIONS: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in four axSpA patients reported poor health and functioning, while the self-perceived health status of almost half of these patients worsened. Nonsmoking, physical activity and being employed were associated with better outcomes.