The effect of the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours in people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background Crises and disasters disproportionally impact people with chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Australian Black Summer Bushfires on health behaviours in people with MS. Methods People with MS, carers, healthcare and advocacy professionals were recruited online between May-July 2020 for an online survey and telephone interviews. Results Survey items relating to health behaviours were completed by 113 people with MS, and 18 people with MS, 4 MS advocates, 5 healthcare professionals, and 2 carers were interviewed. The bushfires affected 34.5% and the pandemic affected 74.3% of survey participants with MS. The pandemic and bushfires caused a decrease in physical activity in 53.8% and 55.3% of participants respectively, as well as increases in unhealthy eating (43.6% and 24.3% respectively) and alcohol consumption (35.4% and 10.5% respectively), and a decrease in typical sleeping patterns (40.5% and 39.5% respectively). Conversely, 27.5% of participants reported an increase in physical activity during the pandemic. Interview data detailed the circumstances and motivations for changes in health behaviours, as well as consequences, including reduced mobility, fitness, mood disturbances, and weight gain. Conclusion There is a need to increase support and health promotion for people with MS to maintain or initiate positive health behaviours, especially in times of adversity.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Associated Technology Use in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: An International RIMS-SIG Mobility Survey Study

“…PwMS are less physically active than the general population, 6 and this may have been further reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. 7,8 National and local restrictions aiming to slow down the spread of COVID-19 forced many venues offering physical activity to close, 7 reducing the availability of physiotherapy and exercise services and thus possibly decreasing the level and type of physical activity for PwMS. In the general population and in people living with disabilities there is emerging evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected physical activity behavior.…”

“…In the general population and in people living with disabilities there is emerging evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected physical activity behavior. [7][8][9][10][11] There is, however, a lack of knowledge regarding whether the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced physical activity in PwMS compared to prepandemic times.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions on Exercise Behavior Among People With Multiple Sclerosis Enrolled in an Exercise Trial: Qualitative Interview Study

“…Indeed, 1 study estimated that almost half of the people with MS decreased their PAs during the COVID-19 pandemic [15]. Studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on PA and exercise among people with MS use a cross-sectional research design and survey methodology, which do not delve into the unique perceptions and experiences of people with MS [15][16][17][18]. A deeper understanding of these issues can inform the development of programs that will more effectively address the unique needs of people with MS. To address this gap, this study used a qualitative research design and explored the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on exercise behavior among a small convenience sample of adults with MS enrolled in STEP for MS.…”

Resilience to Nested Crises: The Effects of the Beirut Explosion on COVID-19 Safety Protocol Adherence During Humanitarian Assistance to Refugees

“…But less research has investigated how cascading crises impact health behaviors . Marck et al ( 4 ) found that Australians diagnosed with multiple sclerosis experienced deterioration in a number of health behaviors during the summer bushfires in 2019–2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced physical activity, increased alcohol consumption, and disrupted sleep patterns. Bell et al ( 5 ) linked existing health survey data with federal disaster declarations at the county-level data and found an association among older adults between exposure to a disaster and reduced physical activity but no association with smoking.…”