Management of rheumatic diseases in the time of covid-19 pandemic: perspectives of rheumatology practitioners from India

Gupta, Latika; Misra, Durga Prasanna; Agarwal, Vishwesh; Balan, Suma; Agarwal, Vikas

doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-217509

Cited by 43 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…1,2 While established scholarly platforms continue publishing and disseminating peer-reviewed and validated items on the new coronavirus, numerous online channels with variable quality checks are emerging and supplying their users with statements, instructions, and recommendations on various aspects of COVID-19. 3 The scarcity of highly skilled professionals, primarily physicians with diverse interests in virology, immunology and thrombology, capable of moderating the unprecedented flow of information via the established and alternative communication channels paves the way for circulation of poorly checked and misleading hypotheses, ideas, and research outcomes. While lay public and professionals scramble to gather more about the current situation, the massive flux of unverified information creates uncertainties due to the infodemic and risks thousands of lives globally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information and Misinformation on COVID-19: a Cross-Sectional Survey Study

et al. 2020

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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a large volume of publications, a barrage of non-reviewed preprints on various professional repositories and a slew of retractions in a short amount of time. Methods: We conducted an e-survey using a cloud-based website to gauge the potential sources of trustworthy information and misinformation and analyzed researchers', clinicians', and academics' attitude toward unpublished items, and pre-and post-publication quality checks in this challenging time. Results: Among 128 respondents (mean age, 43.2 years; M:F, 1.1:1), 60 (46.9%) were scholarly journal editors and editorial board members. Social media channels were distinguished as the most important sources of information as well as misinformation (81 [63.3%] and 86 [67.2%]). Nearly two in five (62, 48.4%) respondents blamed reviewers, editors, and misinterpretation by readers as additional contributors alongside authors for misinformation. A higher risk of plagiarism was perceived by the majority (70, 58.6%), especially plagiarism of ideas (64.1%) followed by inappropriate paraphrasing (54.7%). Opinion was divided on the utility of preprints for changing practice and changing retraction rates during the pandemic period, and higher rejections were not supported by most (76.6%) while the importance of peer review was agreed upon by a majority (80, 62.5%). More stringent screening by journal editors (61.7%), and facilitating open access plagiarism software (59.4%), including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based algorithms (43.8%) were among the suggested solutions. Most (74.2%) supported the need to launch a specialist bibliographic database for COVID-19, with information indexed (62.3%), available as open-access (82.8%), after expanding search terms (52.3%) and following due verification by academics (66.4%), and journal editors (52.3%). Conclusion: While identifying social media as a potential source of misinformation on COVID-19, and a perceived high risk of plagiarism, more stringent peer review and skilled post-publication promotion are advisable. Journal editors should play a more active role in streamlining publication and promotion of trustworthy information on COVID-19.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information and Misinformation on COVID-19: a Cross-Sectional Survey Study

et al. 2020

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“…Gupta et al also reported that approximately half of the practitioners would reduce the use of biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs or defer specific drugs such as rituximab or cyclophosphamide. 2 As reported in our previous paper, 3 although caution is warranted, we believe that preventive insufficient treatment of rheumatological conditions would expose patients to the risk of severe morbidity and mortality connected to the underlying disease. Moreover, uncontrolled disease activity would further increase the risk of infection in these patients, and expose them to an additional burden of inflammation with the possible consequences described by Capecchi et al, 1 and possible confounding of the clinical picture with challenging management issues.…”

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confidence: 59%

The conundrum of COVID-19 treatment targets: the close correlation with rheumatology. Response to: ‘Management of rheumatic diseases in the time of covid-19 pandemic: perspectives of rheumatology pracitioners from India’ by Guptaet aland ‘Antirheumatic agents in covid-19: is IL-6 the right target?’ by Capeechiet al

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Montecucco

2020

Ann Rheum Dis

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“…Internet coverage has significantly improved in distant villages, and among social media platforms (SMPs), WhatsApp usage is widespread and preferred. [ 1 , 25 ] A fair acceptance of SMPs for telecare among 90% rheumatologists has been documented previously. [ 3 , 26 ] Teleconsultation is an evolving field, and no amount of planning is deemed perfect in delivering care in a pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…In a recent global survey among patients with IIM, the use of audio–visual communication for a teleconsultation was supported by most (70%), while telephonic consultations were also acceptable to a majority (52%). [ 1 ] While teleconsultations are fraught with logistic challenges and penetrance issues in low middle- income countries (LMIC), the safety, cost benefit and convenience may account for greater preference (82%) for remote consultation by rheumatology outpatients, a large proportion of whom may be scheduled for routine assessment of stable disease, as reported in a recent Polish study. In fact, this model may be sustainable post-pandemic, given that merely 8.2% wished to discontinue the tele-services post pandemic [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teleconsultation experience with the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a prospective observational cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Teleconsultation has assumed a central role in the management of chronic and disabling rheumatic diseases, such as the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), during COVID-19. However, the feasibility, challenges encountered, and outcomes remain largely unexplored. Here, we describe our teleconsultation experience in a prospectively followed cohort of adult and juvenile IIM. 250 IIM enrolled into the MyoCite cohort (2017-ongoing) were offered the option of audio/visual teleconsultation using WhatsApp during the nationwide lockdown. Clinical outcomes (major/minor relapse) and prescription changes were compared between IIM subsets. Socio-demographic and clinico-serological characteristics of those who sought teleconsultation were compared with those who did not. 151 teleconsultations were sought over a 93 day period by 71 (52.2%) of 136 IIM (median age 38 years, F:M 4.5:1). Nearly one-third (38%) consulted on an emergency basis, with voice consultations being the primary medium of communication. Over a quarter (26.8%) reported relapse (15.5% minor, 11.3% major), these being more common in JDM [71.4%, OR 8.9 (1.5–51)] as compared with adult IIM, but similar across various antibody-based IIM subtypes. Patients who relapsed required more consultations [2(2–3) vs 1(1–2), p 0.009]. The demographic and socioeconomic profile of the patients seeking consultation ( n = 71) was not different from those who did not ( n = 65). Voice-based teleconsultations may be useful to diagnose and manage relapses in IIM during the pandemic. Patient education for meticulous and timely reporting may be improve care, and larger multicentre studies may identify subsets of IIM that require greater care and early tele-triage for effective management of the condition.

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Management of rheumatic diseases in the time of covid-19 pandemic: perspectives of rheumatology practitioners from India

Cited by 43 publications

References 5 publications

Information and Misinformation on COVID-19: a Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Information and Misinformation on COVID-19: a Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Teleconsultation experience with the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a prospective observational cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic

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