Table I.
Sociodemographic and health status of the patients including the medications received, availability and their contact with the rheumatologist
| Parameters | SLE patients (n = 200) n (%) |
|---|---|
| Sociodemographic parameters | |
| Age [years] | 30.1 ±8.4 |
| Gender (female) | 180 (90) |
| Residence | |
| Urban | 172 (86) |
| Rural | 28 (14) |
| Education level | |
| Low | 14 (7) |
| Moderate | 38 (19) |
| High | 148 (74) |
| Economic class | |
| Low | 18 (9) |
| Medium | 160 (80) |
| High | 22 (11) |
| Special habits | |
| Tea/coffee | 120 (60) |
| Smoking | 16 (8) |
| Alcohol | 4 (2) |
| Addiction | 2 (1) |
| Lupus activity (SLEDAI) | |
| Inactive | 130 (65) |
| Mild | 34 (17) |
| Moderate | 31 (16) |
| Severe | 5 (3) |
| Health status during COVID-19 pandemic parameters | |
| Medications used | |
| Corticosteroids | 174 (87) |
| CQ/HCQ | 140 (70) |
| Azathioprine | 10 (5) |
| Cyclosporine | 62 (31) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil | 174 (87) |
| Methotrexate | 2 (1) |
| Leflunomide | 6 (3) |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin | 4 (2) |
| Rituximab | 4 (2) |
| Mode of obtaining medications | |
| Self-payment | 152 (76) |
| Medical insurance | 42 (21) |
| Governmental supply | 12 (6) |
| Regularity of drug intake | 180 (90) |
| Difficulty to obtain the drug | 140 (70) |
| Corticosteroids | 8 (4) |
| Azathioprine | 12 (6) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil | 8 (4) |
| CQ/HCQ | 120 (60) |
| Disease affected by drug shortage | 96 (48) |
| Regular contact with the rheumatologist | 174 (87) |
| Modes of remote contact | 110 (55) |
| Phone | 76 (38) |
| 94 (47) | |
| Messenger | 24 (12) |
| Telegram | 2 (1) |
| Physician’s website/page | 6 (3) |
| Associated diseases/comorbidities | |
| Diabetes mellitus | 4 (2) |
| Hypertension | 26 (13) |
| Cardiovascular | 6 (3) |
| Chest problems | 12 (6) |
| Renal problems | 22 (11) |
| Hepatic problems | 2 (1) |
| Allergy problems | 10 (5) |
CQ/HCQ – hydroxychloroquine, SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus, SLEDAI – Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Index. All parameters are described as number (percent), except age, which is described as mean ± SD.