Medical and Socio-Psychological Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Congenital Bleeding Disorders and Their Caregivers

Year 2023, Issue: 2, 1 - 6, 20.07.2023

Haluk Zülfikar Başak Koç Gülnihal Gözüdok Bülent Züfikar

https://doi.org/10.26650/CURARE.2023.007

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on congenital bleeding disorders (CBDs) patients and the hematology specialists following them.

Material and Methods: CBDs patients with and without a history of COVID-19 being followed up at the oncology institute of a university hospital were considered one study group (71 patients), and hematology specialists from Turkey were considered a separate study group (35 physicians). Data were collected using two questionnaires during face-to-face interviews.

Results: During the pandemic, it was found that 29.3% of COVID-19-positive patients and 50% of COVID-19-negative patients had various degrees of bleeding (p=0.023). It was observed that the data on increase in bleeding, switching to treatment when bleeding, and decrease in mobilization were more negative in patients who were not diagnosed with COVID-19 compared to those who were diagnosed with COVID-19. No difference was found between the two groups in terms of having problems accessing the product used in treatment. More than half of the patients with CBDs expressed high levels of pandemic-related anxiety for themselves and their relatives.
Of the physicians, 34.3% stated they were highly concerned about the patients they followed during the pandemic. Physicians with more professional experience also had higher levels of anxiety about COVID-19.

Conclusion: Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health problems not only among patients with chronic health problems but also among healthcare workers who are fighting the pandemic on the frontlines.

Keywords

COVID-19, hemophilia, blood coagulation disorders, patient health questionnaire

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