Table 2.
Answers distribution to the questions about COVID-19 pandemic (N = 270)
| Question | Possible answers | No. (%) | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| “What is your main concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic?” | Fearing an MS aggravation if I am infected with COVID-19. | 90(33 .3%) | |
| The high prevalence of cases and deaths by COVID-19 in general population. | 60(22.2%) | ||
| The economic impact of the pandemic in my life or in general society. | 54(20.0%) | ||
| Fear of dying because of COVID-19. | 28(10.4%) | ||
| Fearing an MS aggravation because of the postponing of consultations and/or treatments at hospitals or other health institutions (for example, physiotherapy). | 28(10.4%) | More frequently reported by pwMS older than 50 years-old (p < 0.001). | |
| The quarantine psychological effects. | 10(3.7%) | ||
| “Supposing you were infected by COVID-19, how do you think this would impact your general health?” | I will be able to cure the infection, but it will take longer, and I might get more serious complications because of my MS or because of my MS treatment. | 139 (51.5%) | |
| The infection will take a course similar to that of the general population and, most likely, I will be able to cure myself. | 74 (27.4%) | ||
| The infection will probably be fatal because of my MS or because of my MS treatment. | 23 (8.5%) | More frequently reported by pwMS under high-efficacy DMT (p = 0.003). | |
| Since I have other conditions (for example, arterial hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, etc.), I am more vulnerable to COVID-19. | 21 (7.8%) | ||
| Because of my MS treatment, I will be more protected from COVID-19. | 13 (4.8%) | ||
| “Supposing you were infected by COVID-19, how do you think this would impact your MS?” | COVID-19 will probably not have any influence on my MS. | 113 (41.9%) | |
| Aggravation of symptoms and sequelae from MS due to COVID-19 infection. | 109 (40.4%) | More frequently reported by pwMS with progressive phenotypes (p = 0.027). | |
| A new MS relapse caused by COVID-19. | 48 (17.8%) | ||
| “Which of the following sentences best describe COVID-19 pandemic impact on your MS?” | This pandemic did not affect me in any aspect, namely in my MS control. | (79) 29.3% | |
| This pandemic affected me social and professionally, but not in what concerns my MS. | 73 (27.0%) | ||
| I felt less supported in medical terms, because my consultations, exams or treatments were cancelled. | 60 (22.2%) | More frequently selected by pwMS older than 50 years-old (p < 0.001) and by those who did not require a hospital admission for their DMT (p = 0.005). | |
| I felt more isolated and vulnerable while facing COVID-19 pandemic because I have MS. | 43 (15.9%) | ||
| My symptoms got worse during the pandemic. | 15 (5.6%) |