The psychological effect of covid۱۹ pandemic on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients and their attitude change after a year of the pandemic in Isfahan, Iran

Background and Aim: Coronavirus ۲۰۱۹ (COVID۱۹) is a new coronavirus which created a pandemic recently. NMOSD patients are more affected by psychological effects of pandemic such as anxiety because they may be worried about being infected (due to the nature of disease and treatment by immunosuppressants) and they concern about their treatment protocol and disease relapses during the pandemic. The aim of study was to evaluate the anxiety due to COVID۱۹ infection, ۳ and ۱۲ months after beginning of epidemic in Iran. Methods: The study was done in patients of NMOSD Clinic of Isfahan Kashani hospital. We asked individuals if they were anxious or afraid of the pandemic subjectively. To investigate the objective level of anxiety, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) questionnaire was filled. We asked them about respecting general cautions and sanitary protocols to prevent COVID۱۹ infection. Results: Study included ۱۲۰ patients (۹۶ female) with mean age of ۳۶.۳۷±۹.۶۹ and mean disease duration of ۸.۴۹±۵.۳۵ years.۹۶ cases (۸۰%) experienced anxiety during the first ۳ months of pandemic. The point is that their level of anxiety decreased significantly with the prolongation of pandemic and just ۶۶ patients (۵۵%) showed anxiety subjectively on the second survey. Based on HADS-A score, ۹۲ patients (۷۶.۶۶%) were anxious on the third month while after one year of epidemic ۷۰ cases (۵۸.۳۳%) showed anxiety. Conclusion: Respecting preventive measures increased in the same period. So along with the COVID۱۹ pandemic prolongation, the level of anxiety had decreased gradually while the level of alertness and attention was almost high. It should be considered that this awareness must be preserved till the end of epidemic.  

Keywords:

covid۱۹