Patient Perspectives on Healthcare Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in People with Multiple Sclerosis-A Longitudinal Analysis.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems globally, altering the management of chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and interrupting the regular monitoring and support that people with MS (pwMS) typically need. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the utilization of MS healthcare resources over various periods during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and to assess how these changes affected the perceptions of pwMSregarding their care.

Methods: A longitudinal survey study was conducted at the MS Center at the University Hospital Dresden, Germany, involving four survey periods from April 2020 to December 2021. The study assessed the use of healthcare resources, including consultations with specialists, the use of rehabilitative therapy facilities, and unmet healthcare needs, across various phases of the pandemic, encompassing both lockdown and less restrictive periods.

Results: At the onset of the pandemic in April 2020, during the first lockdown, 750 questionnaires were evaluated. While most pwMS reported consistent medical care compared with pre-pandemic levels, 19.2% had fewer general practitioner visits, and 10.6% fewer neurologist visits. During the follow-up survey periods, the use of medical care generally remained stable, although there were notable reductions reported by a subset of participants.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that medical and therapeutic care for pwMS in Germany remained largely accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. However, the study also reveals certain gaps in care that may be addressed by incorporating digital technologies into medical care and rehabilitation, potentially enhancing the management of healthcare during future pandemics or similar situations.