https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6429-6053
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Abstract
Purpose
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, news related to the pandemic has created a feeling of fear, particularly among high-risk groups including elderly patients. This study aimed to assess the fear associated with COVID-19 and to evaluate the fear of vision decrease related to the delay of treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients (nAMD) during the pandemic.
Patients and Methods
This is a prospective cross-sectional study of 160 actively treated patients with nAMD enrolled between September and November 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Québec, Canada. For each participant, demographic and clinical data were collected. The anxiety was rated in a questionnaire composed of two sections: the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and eight additional questions to assess ophthalmology-related COVID-19 statements.
Results
The mean ± standard deviation level of FCV-19S was 17.05±4.38. In the multivariable analysis, it was significantly higher in women (p<0.001) and lower in patients with a high school education vs elementary school (p=0.009). In the ophthalmology-related statements, 16% feared vision loss because of difficulties in maintaining regular follow-ups during the pandemic. The female gender was significantly associated with a higher tendency to postpone their appointment (p=0.03). No association was found between the patients’ underlying disease characteristics and higher fear of vision loss.
Conclusion
Despite the massive impact of the pandemic, anxiety related to COVID-19 and delaying ophthalmology treatments remained relatively low in nAMD patients. Greater explanations to address this fear may reduce anxiety level, especially among female patients and those with an elementary school education.
Abbreviations
AMD, age-related macular degeneration; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; FCV-19S, Fear of COVID-19 Scale; nAMD, neovascular age-related macular degeneration; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.
Data Sharing Statement
All data relevant to the study are included in the article. The datasets used and/or analysed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics Approval and Informed Consent
The Institutional Review Board of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec – Université Laval provided the ethical approval (Reference: 2021-5388). Direct written patient consent was obtained for data collection and analysis. All participants were ensured concerning the confidentiality and anonymity of their data. They were informed about their right to retract their data at any time.
Consent for Publication
Direct written patient consent was obtained for publication.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Centre Universitaire d'Ophtalmologie clinical research team for their support of this research study (Marcelle Giasson and Johanne Doucet).
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors declare that they have no competing interests related to the work submitted. Serge Bourgault and Eric Tourville are consultants and members of ad-board for Bayer and Novartis, outside the submitted work. Eric Tourville is also a consultant to Roche. Ali Dirani is a member of the ad-board for Bayer and Novartis, outside the submitted work. Jean-Philippe Rozon, Mélanie Hébert, Mathieu Caissie and Laurence Letartre have nothing to disclose.