Project Description

Author: Miah et al.

Summary:

As the world witnessed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is a growing need to assess its impact in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As patients with chronic diseases are prone to more severe COVID-19 and unfavorable outcomes, the use of systemic glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants and underlying organ damage from SLE are potential susceptibility factors. Thus, the pandemic poses multiple issues concerning COVID-19 among SLE patients, management and patients’ attitudes toward COVID-19. As there are very limited data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on SLE patients, the objective of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 among SLE patients, the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination, the impact on the management of SLE, and the attitudes of SLE patients towards COVID-19 and vaccination in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional observational study will be conducted at the Rheumatology clinic and Research Center (SLE Clinic) in the Department of Medicine of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Bangladesh. The total study period will be six-months from September 2022 to February 2023. The study protocol will be approved by the Ethical Review Committee (ERC) of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) and will follow the regulation of Declaration of Helsinki. Adult (>18 years of age) patients who are already registered at the SLE clinic of DMCH and also who will be coming for treatment of recent diagnosis, will be taken as study participants. Registered patients coming for follow-ups will be approached for direct interviews, and the rest of the patients will be contacted through telephone interviews. Verbal (through telephone) and written informed consent will be obtained from each of the participants as appropriate. Sociodemographic, clinical, and vaccination data will be collected by using a question-based case record form (CRF). The CRF is designed to answer questions about health status, information about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination along with the attitude towards COVID-19 infection in SLE patients containing both closed and open-ended questions. A total of 384 participants will be included in this study for interview after obtaining consent from each. Two data collectors will be appointed to conduct the data collection after proper training. The collected data will be analyzed by SPSS 25.0.

Status: Ongoing

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