Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Department of Family Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical
2 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran Department of Family Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical
3 Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
4 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
5 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran; Department of Internal Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 disease has affected patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Drug adherence is one of the necessities of rheumatoid arthritis control. This study was investigated the self-medication in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 288 patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred to the Rheumatology Clinic of Rafsanjan in 2021. Data was extracted by checklist. Patients were examined and the type of used drugs, drug dose and dose change were recorded. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, care during the last year and over 16 years of age. Data were analyzed using SPSS/18 software.
Results: The mean ± SD of patients' age were 53.3 ± 12.6 years and 53.8% of patients were male. The mean ± SD duration of the disease was 7.04 ± 6.37 years. Self-medication observed in all drugs, which Alendronate (100.0%, n=13), Folic Acid (100.0%, n=7), Methotrexate (94.1%, n=32) and Prednisolone (89.3%, n=25) had the highest frequency of changes among other drugs (P<0.001). The mean±SD dose of Hydroxychloroquine increased from 1358.5±304.4 to 1368.0±336.2 mg before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (P=0.319). The odd ratio of self-medication was higher in women (OR=6.130, 95%CI: 2.915-12.993), RA patient with academic education (OR=2.727, 95%CI: 1.037-7.166) and, lower in RA patient with governmental job (OR=0.277, 95%CI: 0.086-0.893).
Conclusion: Self-medication of rheumatoid arthritis drugs maybe occur due to the positive effect of these drugs on COVID-19 disease and further reduced drug accessibility. It is necessary to plan for prevent self-medication in these patients by physician.
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