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- Öster, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Self-management and hospitalization in 615 Swedish patients with Addison's disease during the COVID-19 pandemic : a retrospective study
- 2023
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In: European Journal of Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0804-4643 .- 1479-683X. ; 188:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) entails a chronic adrenal insufficiency and is associated with an increased risk of severe infections. It is, however, unknown how patients with AAD were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020-2021. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with AAD in Sweden, the self-adjustment of medications during the disease, impact on social aspects and treatment during hospitalization. Additionally, we investigated if there were any possible risk factors for infection and hospitalization.DESIGN AND METHODS: Questionnaires were sent out from April to October 2021 to 813 adult patients with AAD in the Swedish Addison registry. The questionnaires included 55 questions inquiring about COVID-19 sickness, hospital care, medications, and co-morbidities, focusing on the pre-vaccine phase.RESULTS: Among the 615 included patients with AAD, COVID-19 was reported by 17% of which 8.5% required hospital care. Glucocorticoid treatment in hospitalized patients varied. For outpatients 85% increased their glucocorticoid dosage during sickness. Older age (p=0.002) and hypertension (p=0.014) were associated with an increased risk of hospital care while younger age (p<0.001) and less worry about infection (p=0.030) correlated with a higher risk of COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS: In the largest study to date examining AAD during the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed that although one fifth of the cohort contracted COVID-19 few patients required hospital care. A majority of the patients applied general recommended sick-rules despite reporting limited communication with healthcare during the pandemic.
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