The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a Global Ulcerative Colitis Narrative Patient Survey

IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created challenges related to disease management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).MethodsThe UC Narrative COVID-19 survey was conducted from August to December 2021 among adults with UC from the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and Finland. Patients were questioned on disease management, health care access and experience, and preferences for interactions with their doctor. Data were analyzed descriptively.ResultsIn total, 584 patients qualified for and completed the survey. Compared with 2019, 25% experienced more flares during the pandemic (from early 2020). Most patients (88%) taking prescription medication were very/somewhat satisfied with their current treatment plan; 53% were hesitant to make changes during the pandemic. Factors that patients agreed helped control UC symptoms during the pandemic included fewer social outings (37%), working from home (29%), and less busy schedules (28%). Greater anxiety/stress (43%) and hesitancy to visit a hospital/office (34%) made the control of UC symptoms more difficult. Compared with 2019, more patients relied on certain alternative support systems during the pandemic. Patients who used in-person and virtual appointments were equally very satisfied/satisfied with the quality of care (both 81%). In-person appointments were preferred by 68% of patients when meeting a new doctor, 55% when experiencing a flare, and 52% for regular check-ups; 41% preferred virtual appointments for UC prescription refills.ConclusionDuring the pandemic, most patients were satisfied with their current UC treatment plan and access to care; more patients relied on certain alternative UC management support systems, and many were impacted by anxiety/stress. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created challenges for patients with ulcerative colitis. These challenges included managing symptoms, lifestyle changes, and access to health care. We asked patients with ulcerative colitis to answer questions about their experience during the pandemic to try to understand how the pandemic was affecting them. A total of 584 patients from the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and Finland took part. Patients were asked questions online. We asked them about their disease activity during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before the pandemic and how their disease was managed, their access to health care, and their experience during the pandemic. We also asked them about their satisfaction with the types of appointments they had during the pandemic (for example, in-person or virtual meetings), and their interactions and preference for interactions with their doctors. We found that most patients were satisfied with their current treatment plan, their access to health care, and the quality of the care they received. However, many patients experienced greater stress or anxiety, and there was a negative impact on their emotional well-being. During the pandemic, more patients relied on alternative support systems such as online patient portals or virtual appointments, but patients preferred in-person appointments with their doctors in most cases except for refilling prescriptions. This information may help doctors understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with ulcerative colitis, and may help doctors and patients develop treatment plans that include both in-person and virtual appointments.