The impact of the reclusion on patients with blepharospasm during the COVID19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Blepharospasm (BS) is a focal dystonia that can be treated successfully with Botulinum toxin (BoNT). During the reclusion due to the Covid 19 pandemic many patients missed the scheduled treatment. OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study is to evaluate Level of Disability (LoD) related to BS during the lockdown period. METHODS: LoD was assessed by an adapted version of Blepharospasm Disability Index (4iBSDI) during reclusion (T1), and three months after the first injection following the lock down phase (T2). 4iBSDI scores were compared between T1 and T2, a correlation between the change of LoD in the two periods (t-delta) and patients’ clinical data was analyzed. RESULTS: LoD was not modified between the two periods in most of the patients and it was reduced at T1 in almost one third of the participants. No correlation between t-delta and clinical data was found. CONCLUSIONS: LoD did not increase during the lock down period in most of BS patients although BoNT treatment was suspended. Environmental and psychosocial factors may contribute to determine the LoD due to BS.