Dataset Information

Determinants of Pain-Induced Disability in German Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: (1) Background: The main aim of this research was to examine the factors leading to pain-induced disability by assessing the impact of demographic, endometriosis-specific, pandemic-specific, and mental health factors. (2) Methods: Women with endometriosis who attended online support groups were invited to respond to an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The Pain Disability Index (PDI) was employed to assess disability-related daily functioning. Independent predictors of pain-induced disability were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. (3) Results: The mean PDI score of the study population was 31.61 (SD = 15.82), which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that reported in a previously published normative study of the German population. In the present study, a high level of pain-induced disability, as defined by scores equal to or higher than the median of the study population, older age (OR 1.063, 95% CI 1.010-1.120, p = 0.020), dysmenorrhea (OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.005-1.026, p = 0.005), dysuria (OR 1.014; 95% CI 1.001-1.027, p = 0.029), lower back pain (OR 1.018, 95% CI 1.007-1.029, p = 0.001), and impaired mental health (OR 1.271, 95% CI 1.134-1.425, p < 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors. Pandemic-specific factors did not significantly influence the pain-induced disability of the participants in this study. (4) Conclusions: The level of pain-induced disability was significantly higher among the women with endometriosis than among women in the normative German validation study. Our findings identified risk factors for experiencing a high level of pain-induced disability, such as demographic and specific pain characteristics. Pandemic-specific factors did not significantly and independently influence the pain-induced disability during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Impaired mental health negatively influenced functioning during daily activities. Thus, women with endometriosis should be managed by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to prevent negative effects of pain-induced disability on their quality of life.

SUBMITTER: Schwab R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9320034 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Determinants of Pain-Induced Disability in German Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Schwab Roxana R Stewen Kathrin K Kottmann Tanja T Theis Susanne S Elger Tania T Hamoud Bashar Haj BH Schmidt Mona W MW Anic Katharina K Brenner Walburgis W Hasenburg Annette A

International journal of environmental research and public health 20220706 14

(1) Background: The main aim of this research was to examine the factors leading to pain-induced disability by assessing the impact of demographic, endometriosis-specific, pandemic-specific, and mental health factors. (2) Methods: Women with endometriosis who attended online support groups were invited to respond to an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The Pain Disability Index (PDI) was employed to assess disability-related daily functioning. Independent p ...[more]

PMID: 35886130

Similar Datasets

Project description:(1) Background: Endometriosis is a frequent chronic pain condition in women of fertile age. Pain management with analgesics is frequently used by women with endometriosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to health services was temporarily restricted in various countries for persons without serious conditions, resulting in increased physical and mental health issues. The present study was conducted in order to assess the risk factors predicting increased analgesic intake by women with endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: The increased intake of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-only (PO) analgesics was assessed with an anonymous online questionnaire, along with demographic, pandemic-specific, disease-specific, and mental health characteristics. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) and the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-2), respectively. Pain-induced disability was assessed with the pain-induced disability index (PDI). (3) Results: A high educational level (OR 2.719; 95% CI 1.137-6.501; p = 0.025) and being at higher risk for depressive disorders, as measured by PHQ-2 ≥ 3 (OR 2.398; 95% CI 1.055-5.450; p = 0.037), were independent risk factors for an increased intake of OTC analgesics. Current global pain-induced disability (OR 1.030; 95% CI 1.007-1.054; p = 0.010) was identified as a risk factor for an increased intake of PO pain medication. The degree of reduction in social support and in social networks were independent predictors of an increased intake of PO analgesics in a univariate logistic regression analysis, but lost significance when adjusted for additional possible influencing factors. (4) Conclusions: In this population, an increased intake of OTC analgesics was related to a higher educational level and having a depressive disorder, while a higher pain-induced disability was an independent risk factor for an increased intake of PO analgesics. Pandemic-specific factors did not significantly and independently influence an increased intake of analgesics in women with endometriosis during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Healthcare providers should be aware of the possible factors related to increased analgesic use in women with endometriosis in order to identify persons at risk for the misuse of pain medication and to prevent potential adverse effects.

Project description:Background: Endometriosis is a multifaceted chronic pain condition that can have a negative impact on mental health. Patients suffering from chronic pain may face an additional psychological burden during adversity, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety, the influence of demographic, endometriosis-specific, pandemic-specific factors, and resilience on mental health outcomes of patients with endometriosis. Methods: An online survey was conducted through patient support groups of women suffering from endometriosis during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PHQ-4 questionnaire, which combines two items of the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-2) and two items from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) was used to assess self-reported mental health. The Brief Resilience Score (BRS) was employed to evaluate resilience. Independent risk and protective factors for mental health were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The PHQ-4 questionnaire was completed by 274 respondents. More than 40% reached depression (PHQ-2) and anxiety (GAD-2) scores of ≥3, and more than 20% achieved PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scores of ≥5. High resilience was found to be a reliable and strong independent protector for the probability of developing adverse psychological outcomes: OR 0.295, p < 0.001 for developing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-2 ≥ 3), and OR 0.467, p < 0.001 for having major depression (PHQ-2 ≥ 3). Conclusions: Pain-induced disability is an independent risk factor for developing major depression and anxiety, while resilience was identified as a potential protective parameter in terms of positive psychological outcomes in women with endometriosis. The results of this study may help to identify women at risk for adverse mental health outcomes and should encourage healthcare practitioners to establish strategies for the reduction of negative psychological and psychiatric impacts on patients with endometriosis.

Project description:BackgroundEndometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory condition which affects women of reproductive age physically and psychologically in their everyday life. The most common symptom is chronic lower abdominal pain. Apart from physical pain, endometriosis often also leads to an unfulfilled desire to give birth. In general, these two main aspects alone lead to emotional stress for patients and often initiate depressive symptoms. To what extent endometriosis patients are additionally affected by the COVID pandemic and its effects is to be determined in this study.MethodsPatients who presented at our endometriosis center and met the study criteria were offered participation in the study. A link to an online questionnaire (SoSci-Survey) was sent by email. The online questionnaire evaluated depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic as well as the pain perception and perceived support during the pandemic. The data of 167 fully completed questionnaires were evaluated and analyzed using SPSS.ResultsThe analysis of the questionnaires revealed a significant association between pain levels and depressive symptomatology in endometriosis patients during the pandemic. Patients with more severe pain showed significantly higher depressive symptoms than patients with little or no pain. During the pandemic, patients showed higher depressive symptoms than before. In addition, it was found that those endometriosis patients who felt left alone with their pain due to the consequences of the COVID pandemic, or who felt they had to endure the pain alone, also had higher depressive symptoms.ConclusionIn summary, it can be observed that endometriosis patients with a high pain burden had significantly higher depressive symptoms during the COVID pandemic. The consequences of the pandemic often led to the feeling of having to cope with the symptoms alone or having to endure pain alone, which in turn increased the depressive symptoms. As treating physicians, we should be aware of these connections and try to counteract them with targeted offers and support.

Project description:Study questionWhat was the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare and quality of life in those suffering from endometriosis?Summary answerOur study reveals a clear correlation between the deterioration of the reported physical and mental state and impaired medical care for patients suffering from endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.What is known alreadyThe quality of life of patients suffering from endometriosis is compromised in a variety of aspects. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, self-isolation practices aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 have severely complicated the availability of proper medical care worldwide.Study design size durationThe study involved a cross-sectional international self-reported online survey. Responses were accepted between November 2020 and January 2021. The survey was prepared by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a medical university setting. The survey contained 17 questions and was placed online. Cooperation with different endometriosis organizations around the world enabled distribution of the survey through their social media platforms.Participants/materials setting methodsThe study participants (n = 3024 replies) originated from 59 countries. The questionnaire was created after a literature review and is partially based on the validated quality of life questionnaires, adjusted to the study question. The survey was then translated to 15 other languages following World Health Organization recommendations as closely as possible. Chi-square tests for independence were carried out for the analysis of the two variables: suspension of health services, and the patients mental and physical well-being.Main results and the role of chanceOut of 3024 participants from 59 countries who submitted the questionnaire between November 2020 and January 2021, 2964 (98.01%) provided information that enabled a full analysis. For the 1174 participants who had their medical appointments cancelled, 43.7% (n = 513) reported that their symptoms had been aggravated, and 49.3% (n = 579) reported that their mental state had worsened.In comparison, of the 1180 participants who kept their appointments, only 29.4% (n = 347) stated that their symptoms had been aggravated, and 27.5% (n = 325) stated their mental health had worsened. The results showed that there was a significant link between the reported deterioration of mental and physical wellbeing and impaired medical care (cancellation) (P ≪ 0.001). A total of 610 participants did not have medical appointments scheduled, and these participants followed a similar pattern as the participants who kept their appointments, with 29.0% (n = 177) reporting aggravation of symptoms and 28.2% (n = 172) reporting that their mental state had worsened.Limitations reasons for cautionCultural differences among international participants are to be expected and this may have affected how participants from different countries interpreted and answered the questionnaire. Translating the questionnaire into 15 different languages, even though incorporating backwards translation, could possibly lead to different interpretations of given questions, simply based on different wording in the languages. The majority of respondents (around 90%) were from Europe and South America and therefore the findings may not be generalizable to other locations.Wider implications of the findingsFurther research is needed to assess the true impact and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for patients living with endometriosis.Study funding/competing interestsThis study received no funding and the authors declare they have no relevant conflicts of interest.Trial registration numberN/A.

Dataset Information

Determinants of Pain-Induced Disability in German Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Publications

Determinants of Pain-Induced Disability in German Women with Endometriosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets