RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Concerns, healthcare use, and treatment interruptions in patients with common autoimmune rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP jrheum.201017 DO 10.3899/jrheum.201017 A1 Michael George A1 Shilpa Venkatachalam A1 Shubhasree Banerjee A1 Joshua F. Baker A1 Peter A. Merkel A1 Kelly Gavigan A1 David Curtis A1 Maria I. Danila A1 Jeffrey R. Curtis A1 W. Benjamin Nowell YR 2020 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2020/11/10/jrheum.201017.abstract AB Objective To assess concerns and healthcare-related behaviors of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Adults from the United States with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the ArthritisPower Patient-Powered Research Network and CreakyJoints patient community completed surveys. Concerns and behaviors were compared among patients with different autoimmune conditions, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) use, and geographic measures of urban status, income, education, and COVID-19 activity. Results Among 1,517 participants (925 RA, 299 PsA, 185 AS, 108 SLE), mean age was 55.1 years, 88.3% were female, and 89.5% white. COVID-19 concerns were similar across the country and were higher in biologic users (p < 0.001). Avoidance of doctor’s office visits (56.6%) or laboratory testing (42.3%) and use of telehealth (29.5%) were more common in urban areas. Among participants on DMARDs without COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, 14.9% stopped a DMARD, with 78.7% of DMARD interruptions not recommended by a physician. DMARD stopping was more common participants with lower socioeconomic status and in participants who avoided an office visit [OR 1.46(1.04-2.04)] or reported lack of telehealth availability [OR 2.26(1.25-4.08)]. Conclusion In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with RA, PsA, AS, and SLE frequently avoided office visits and laboratory testing. DMARD interruptions commonly occurred without the advice of a physician and were associated with socioeconomic status, office visits, and telehealth availability, highlighting the need for adequate healthcare access and attention to vulnerable populations during the pandemic.