Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal (Apr 2024)

Risk perception, well-being, depression and anxiety in children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic - results from the prospective multicenter KICK-COVID study in Germany

  • Claudia Sengler,
  • Jens Klotsche,
  • Malthe Jessen Pedersen,
  • Martina Niewerth,
  • Julia Göldel,
  • Daniel Windschall,
  • Johannes-Peter Haas,
  • Frank Dressler,
  • Ralf Trauzeddel,
  • Anton Hospach,
  • Frank Weller-Heinemann,
  • Stefanie Lanzinger,
  • Clemens Kamrath,
  • Reinhard W. Holl,
  • Petra Warschburger,
  • Kirsten Minden

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-024-00979-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Objective To investigate the psychosocial burden in children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods As part of the multicentre observational KICK-COVID study linked to the National Pediatric Rheumatology Database, adolescents < 21 years and parents of children < 12 years with rheumatic diseases answered questions on perceptions of health risk (PHR) due to SARS-CoV2, stress, well-being (WHO-5) and symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Data were collected at routine visits from June to December 2021 and assessed for association with demographic and clinical parameters, treatment and patient-reported outcomes by multivariable regression analyses. Results Data from 1356 individuals (69% female, 50% adolescents) were included. Median PHR on a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0–10) was 4 (IQR 2–6), median perceived stress was 3 (IQR 1–6). Adolescents reported a worse well-being with a significantly lower median WHO-5-score (60, IQR 40–76) than parents reported for their children < 12 years (80, IQR 68–84). Moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety were reported by 14.3% and 12.3% of the adolescents, respectively. PHR was significantly higher in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, methotrexate or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy than in patients without these characteristics, whereas lower WHO-5 or higher PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores were only associated with poorer patient-reported health status and physical functioning. Conclusion The perception of health risk due to SARS-CoV2 infection was not paralleled by an impairment of mental health, which were, however, significantly correlated with self-rated health status and functional capacity, highlighting the importance of patient-reported outcome assessment. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), no. DRKS00027974. Registered on 27th of January 2022.

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