Arthritis Research Canada’s research scientist Dr Mary De Vera and her team have launched a study, UNIFIED, which seeks to better understand the experiences of individuals with rheumatic diseases and immunosuppressive conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, people living with arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus, are more vulnerable to infection because of their arthritis and the medications used for their treatment. What is not known is how the pandemic has impacted people with arthritis and how to better support arthritis patients.

Through surveys and interviews, the UNIFIED study will ask people living with arthritis how COVID-19 has affected access to and use of their arthritis medications, and how it has impacted their mental health. The study will also assess patients’ experiences with care and access to their physician. This includes telehealth, treatment decisions, and mental health checkups.

Patient input is needed so decisions made by doctors and health care systems can be informed and optimized during the pandemic and beyond. For more information about the study, visit www.arthritisresearch.ca/participants-needed-understanding-the-experiences-of-individuals-with-immunosuppressive-conditions-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-unified [9].