Thousands of arthritis cases ‘missed during Covid’

Thousands of arthritis cases were missed during Covid, according to another study that revealed the knock-on effect of the pandemic.

The researchers said there was no resurgence of diagnosis after the restrictions were lifted, so “it is likely that undiagnosed patients will suffer a considerable burden.”

This means that many patients who may have the disease have not been seen by their primary care physicians or tested by hospital specialists, with cases expected to continue until April this year, 2020. It did not exceed the level of previous years.

The study, published in The Lancet Rheumatology journal by researchers at King’s College London, looked at caring for 31,000 people with newly diagnosed arthritis between April 2019 and March 2022, compared to 17 million people in the UK. evaluated from more than one study population.

It found that the number of newly recorded arthritis diagnoses dropped by 20% in the year after the initial Covid lockdown compared to the year before the pandemic.

Researchers used OpenSAFELY, a highly secure health data platform, to determine how arthritis diagnosis and management has been impacted by the pandemic.

According to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, more than 400,000 adults in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, stiffness, pain, and exhaustion.

If left untreated, joints can lose shape and alignment, leading to permanent disability. In short, early diagnosis and treatment improve patient outcomes.

Once a diagnosis is made, patients can begin highly effective treatment to control symptoms and prevent irreversible damage.

The study found that there appears to be no further delay in starting treatment for patients diagnosed during the pandemic.

It also said hospital experts are taking less time to assess patients than they did pre-pandemic. This may be due to fewer referrals to hospitals overall during the pandemic and an increase in the use of virtual appointments.

Each year, the quality of care for rheumatoid arthritis patients is assessed through a national audit process.

These audits were suspended during the pandemic, making comparisons of care difficult.

Lead author Dr Mark Russell of King’s College London said: “This study highlights that there are likely people with undiagnosed joint pain and swelling as a result of the pandemic. .

“It’s important to see your doctor if you have these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can greatly improve patient outcomes and increase the likelihood of disease remission.” because it rises.

“The key message of this study is that it is possible to use regularly collected health data to assess the quality of care for patients with long-term health conditions.

“This approach can be applied to many other chronic health conditions and can be used to provide feedback to NHS organizations and clinicians with the aim of optimizing patient care.”

Benjamin Ellis, Ph.D., consultant rheumatologist and senior clinical adviser to the charity Versus Arthritis, said:

“They can cause swelling, pain, stiffness, joint damage and can incapacitate a person. People who develop inflammatory arthritis require urgent intensive care by a rheumatologist. Diagnosis and treatment.” Delays can lead to long-term pain and disability.

“This study suggests that during the Covid-19 pandemic, about 2,700 people did not have the necessary diagnosis to access treatment and support.

“Worryingly, numbers since the pandemic suggest the NHS has not yet caught up, leaving people in severe and unnecessary pain.

“The NHS must focus on identifying who these people are and accelerating treatment to prevent further unnecessary risk of harm.”