COVID-19 and shielding: experiences of UK patients with lupus and related diseases.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The shielding guidance in the UK for the clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) commenced on 23 March 2020 in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the pandemic and shielding on patients with lupus and related systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods

This was a mixed-methods cohort study (n = 111) including pre-lockdown baseline surveys (March 2020), follow-up surveys (June 2020) and in-depth interviews during July 2020 (n = 25).

Results

Most participants had a high level of anxiety regarding their mortality risk from COVID-19 and supported the concept of shielding. Shielding allocations and communications were perceived as inconsistently applied and de

SUBMITTER: Sloan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7928599 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature