Multiple sclerosis and COVID-19: Assessing risk perception, patient behaviors and access to disease-modifying therapies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, global healthcare systems have had to rapidly adapt. People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) were required to make decisions about their individual risk and consequent work and social behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate risk perception and patterns of shielding behavior amongst pwMS at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent impact on patients' employment and access to disease modifying therapies (DMTs).

Methods

Postal surveys were sent to 1690 people within a UK population-based MS cohort during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were surveyed on: (i) perceived vulnerability to COVID-19; (ii) isolation behavior; (iii) interruption to DMT; (iv) employment status; (v) level of satisfaction with thei

SUBMITTER: Beesley R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9381979 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature