P055 Worry about COVID-19 amongst adult rheumatology patients in the UK is associated with the number of cases, and drives risk-reducing behaviours
Authors: Beesley Richard P , Costello Wendy , Angevare Saskya P , Uziel Yosef , Wouters Carine , Wulffraat Nico 
Published: April 2021

Background/Aims 

In March 2020, the WHO characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic. Whilst many people with COVID-19 infection appeared to have mild or no symptoms, a significant proportion became seriously ill. At the time, little was known about how patients with rheumatic or autoimmune conditions, many of whom use immunosuppressive medications, are affected by the virus. The aim of the patient-led longitudinal survey (the COVID-19 European Patient Registry, EPR) is to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on these patients. This specific analysis aims to understand how the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases affects the self-reported level of worry experienced by participants.

Methods 

The EPR comprises an online health questionnaire. Each week participants are sent a short follow-up survey concerning exposure to COVID-19, symptoms, diagnosis, how worried they feel (scale, 0-10), and a range of behaviours. The weekly mean worry score from participants was calculated by country, and compared to the weekly total number of cases of COVID-19 reported within each country. The association between worry score and a range of behaviours was also calculated.

Results 

To 27 September 2020, a total of 3,619 adults and 639 children were included in the EPR. There is a correlation between the total number of weekly cases and the mean worry score amongst UK-based adult participants in the EPR (linear regression, R2=0.779,P&lt;0.001). Interestingly, there is no such correlation in any other country with participants in the EPR, nor amongst parents of children with rheumatic conditions. Additionally, the level of worry is associated with specific behaviours that affect exposure to the coronavirus for all adult participants. P055 Table 1:BehaviourEffect of worrySocial distancing*Mean worry correlated with proportion of participants social distancingSelf-isolation (staying at home despite no symptoms or known exposure to cases)*Mean worry correlated with proportion of participants self-isolatingNo action to protect against coronavirus*Mean worry negatively correlated with proportion of participants not social distancing or self-isolatingMask wearing or remaining home**Participants with higher worry score more likely to not leave home at all during the weekParticipants with higher worry score more likely to remain outside and not enter buildings during the weekParticipants with higher worry score more likely to wear a mask every time they leave homeParticipants with lower worry score more likely to not wear a maskParticipants with lower worry score more likely to wear a mask only ‘sometimes’Level of self-reported worry, associated with a range of behaviours.*Pearson’s correlation, P &lt; 0.001.**ANOVA, P &lt; 0.05.

Conclusion 

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is associated with the level of worry, and consequent behaviour change, amongst UK adults with rheumatic conditions. This suggests that the number of cases, government response, and media portrayal affect how worried participants feel. This in turn drives behavioural change towards COVID-avoiding behaviours. This phenomenon appears exclusive to UK-based adults, suggesting differences in the perception of the threat posed by COVID varies between countries.

Disclosure 

R.P. Beesley: None. W. Costello: None. S.P. Angevare: None. Y. Uziel: None. C. Wouters: None. N. Wulffraat: Grants/research support; NW has received funding for research by AbbVie, speakers honorarium by Sobi (not related to this study).