Introduction:

patients with rheumatic diseases have a significantly impaired quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the population and health systems around the world.

Objectives:

to analyze the impact of the pandemic on the quality of life and access to medical care of patients with systemic sclerosis (SS).

Materials and methods:

through anonymous and digital surveys of patients during July and August 2020, quality of life was assessed using the Systemic Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (SScQoL). In addition, questions were asked to assess access to the health system during that period.

Results:

300 patients with SS were surveyed. The median quality of life affectation according to the questionnaire used was 17 (9.25-22), with pain being the most affected domain. Twenty-nine percent did not attend their medical appointments, 74.33% reported having pending medical studies at the beginning of the quarantine, and only 25% could carry them out.

Conclusions:

patients with SS presented compromised quality of life during the pandemic and showed difficulties in accessing the health system.

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