TABLE 1.

Research questions

Screening for/diagnosis of COVID‐19

1. Do patients with RMD have a higher risk of COVID‐19 compared to the general population?

2. How can COVID‐19 risk be mitigated in patients with RMD?

3. Should patients with RMD be screened for COVID‐19 differently than the general population?

Management of RMD patients without COVID‐19

4. In newly diagnosed patients, should treatment be initiated differently during this pandemic period compared with prior to the pandemic?

5. What is the evidence on continuing/de‐escalating/ discontinuing treatment in patients with RMD who are close contacts of individuals with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection?

6. What has been the effect of the pandemic on treatment adherence?

7. What is the role of telemedicine in the management of patients with RMD in the setting of COVID‐19?

8. Which vaccines should be recommended for patients with RMD during the pandemic period?

Management of RMD patients with COVID‐19

9. What are the rheumatic manifestations of COVID‐19?

10. Is the clinical presentation of COVID‐19 in patients with RMD different from that in patients without RMD?

11. Can patients with RMD continue their medication once diagnosed with COVID‐19?

12. What is the evidence for de‐escalating/discontinuing treatment in patients with RMD with COVID‐19?

13. What is the evidence on glucocorticoids in the treatment of COVID‐19?

14. What is the evidence on continuing/re‐initiating treatment in patients with RMD post‐COVID‐19?

15. What is the effect of COVID‐19 on the quality of life of patients with RMD post‐COVID‐19?

Abbreviations: COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; RMD, rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

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