Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Care Conduct and Psychological Burden Among Patients With Psoriasis:Real-World Data From a Tertiary Hospital in China

Objective:The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic has caused extensive damage worldwide.We explored whether the medical care conduct of patients with psoriasis has changed and whether the COVID-19 epidemic has placed more psychological pressure on these patients.Methods:A questionnaire survey was administered to patients with psoriasis in the Dermatology Department of Peking University Third Hospital in July 2022.Information about the patients’general demographics,psoriasis condition,mental state of anxiety(Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7[GAD-7]score),changes in medical care conduct,and Concerns about COVID-19-Related Risk Score for Psoriasis(CCRSP,a self-designed questionnaire)was collected.Univariate analysis with the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables was used in the estimation of statistical differences.Results:A total of 112 patients with psoriasis completed the survey.Purchasing medicine was the factor that added difficulty for most participants(32.1%).Fewer participants(26.8%)encountered medical registration difficulties than economic and transportation difficulties.Nearly three-quarters of participants(73.2%)reported at least one medical care conduct change resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic.A small proportion of participants(12.5%)thought that COVID-19 prevented them from seeking medical services for psoriasis.The top three items that caused the most concern were psoriasis aggravation resulting from drug reduction and withdrawal because of COVID-19(44.7%),psoriasis aggravation after infection with COVID-19(38.4%),and psoriasis-related side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine(35.7%).The GAD-7 score of patients with a high CCRSP(score of>10)was significantly higher than that of patients with a low CCRSP(score of≤10)(nonparametric test,P=0.047).Conclusion:COVID-19 poses challenges and places a mental burden on patients with psoriasis.Doctors should regulate the medical behavior of patients with psoriasis according to their specific COVID-19 situation and help patients ease their anxiety to maintain the stability of their psoriasis condition.

Bridging the gap:Unveiling the crisis of physical inactivity in inflammatory bowel diseases

In this editorial we comment on the article titled“Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity:The BE-FIT-IBD study”published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroen-terology 2023;29(41):5668-5682.Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale,with detrimental impacts on quality of life.While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease,physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD.Chronic pain,fatigue,and fear of exacerbating symptoms promotes physical inactivity among IBD patients,while the lack of clear guidelines on safe exercise regimens contributes to a norm of physical inactivity.Physical activity(PA)is accepted to have a positive effect on disease outcomes and quality of life,while inactivity exacerbates comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study,focusing on PA levels and barriers in IBD patients of Southern Italy,revealed that a significant proportion(42.9%)were physically inactive.This lack of PA is attributed to barriers such as fear of flare-ups and misconceptions about exercise exacerbating the disease.The study also highlighted the need for better communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits of PA and safe incorporation into lifestyles.Moreover,physical inactivity may also contribute to disability in IBD patients,having a great impact on employment status.Of note is the fact that IBD also comes with an important psychological burden with relevant evidence suggesting that regular PA can improve mood,reduce anxiety,and enhance mental health.The“BE-FIT-IBD”study advocated for the integration of PA into IBD management,emphasizing the bidirectional link between PA and IBD.Regular exercise can influence the course of IBD,potentially reducing symptom severity and prolonging remission periods.As such,it is mandatory that healthcare providers actively educate patients,dispel misconceptions,and tailor exercise recommendations to improve the quality of life and reduce IBD-related complications.

Rehabilitation care of patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury:A literature review

This article reviews the research progress of rehabilitation treatment and nursing care of patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury,in order to provide reference for the rehabilitation treatment and nursing care of patients.We reviewed recent medical literature on patients with neurogenic bladder,focusing on neurogenic bladder caused by spinal cord injury.We analyzed 30 recent of publications in patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury,in addition to reviewing and evaluating the commonly used rehabilitation nursing methods for neurogenic bladder.Psychological counseling is a vital aspect which cannot be neglected in the process of neurogenic bladder rehabilitation.Hitherto,the commonly used drug and surgical treatments may have negatively impacted the mental health of patients in varying degrees.However,in clinical practice,applying intermittent catheterization in patients who have neurogenic bladder with spinal cord injury may help improve patients’life quality,mitigate psychological burden,and reduce negative emotions.