Coping During COVID: Addressing the Concerns That Your Patients With Autoimmune Diseases Have

As Michael George, MD, explained in his previous video with us, patients with autoimmune rheumatic conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, have concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. In this video from our sister site, the Autoimmune Learning Network, he explains what a conversation with these patients should include. Video Transcript: Michael George: These conversations are really hard because we don’t have all of the information. Of course, many patients want to know, “Am I at higher risk than the average person? What can I do for the holidays? How should I act? What should I do with my medications?” There’s some uncertainty there. Encouraging people to follow at least the precautions that are recommended for everyone with social distancing and mask wearing, very important. There’s also guidance from the American College of Rheumatology about medications, and I do tell people about that—that the ACR suggests that people not stop their medications unless they’re sick or exposed. We know that having a flare of your condition, needing higher doses of corticoids, those seem to be the bigger risks for getting sick. I encourage my patients to stay healthy and make sure they’re continuing their medications and keeping me informed about their concerns.   Michael George, MD, an assistant professor of rheumatology and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania. He also serves as a medical advisor to CreakyJoints.   Additional Resource: George M, Venkatachalam S, Banerjee S, et al. Concerns and health-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with or without autoimmune rheumatic disease in a large physician network. Abstract presented at: American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2020; November 5-9, 2020; Virtual. https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/concerns-and-health-related-behaviors-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-patients-with-or-without-autoimmune-rheumatic-disease-in-a-large-physician-network/    Watch another video with Dr George here.