ArticleBMJ open2021
Healthcare use during COVID-19 and the effect on psychological distress in patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disorders in the Netherlands: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chronic Care Patients.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2023Trial
- Psychological Distress in COPD Assessed by DASS-21-R: Multivariable Regression and Bayesian Analysis Across GOLD Stages.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Observational
- Disrupted HIV care during COVID-19 pandemic associated with increased disabilities among people living with HIV in Belize.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Investigation of Health-Related Quality of Life, Anxiety and Satisfaction in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism.Journal of personalized medicine · 2024Article
- Prevalence of depressive symptoms and correlates among individuals who self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection after optimizing the COVID-19 response in China.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Use and Outcomes of Cardiac Procedures in COPD Patients.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Determinants of Outpatient Physician Visits in the General Adult German Population during Later Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Common Infections and Antibiotic Prescribing during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Primary Care-Based Observational Cohort Study.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive shift in the focus of healthcare. Such changes could have affected health status and mental health in vulnerable patient groups. We aimed to investigate whether patients with chronic pulmonary and cardiac diseases had experienced high levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.
designA cross-sectional study.
settingCOVID-19 pandemic-related changes in healthcare use, health status and psychological distress were investigated among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and congestive heart failure (CHF), using an online nationwide survey.
participants680 patients completed the survey. COPD was the most often reported diagnosis 334 (49%), followed by congestive heart failure 219 (32%) and PF 44 (7%). There were 79 (12%) patients with primary diagnosis 'other' than chronic cardiopulmonary disease, who also completed this survey.
interventionsPsychological distress was assessed via the DASS-21 score (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale). Moreover, specific worries and anxieties regarding COVID-19 were explored.
resultsThe frequency of contact with healthcare professionals changed in 52%. Changes in treatment were reported in 52%. Deterioration in health status was self-reported in 39%. Moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress was observed in 25.8%, 28.5% and 14%, respectively. Over 70% reported specific worries and anxieties, such as about their own health and fear of being alone. Both the deterioration in health status and increased levels of anxiety were significantly (p<0.001, p<0.006) associated with changes in treatment. Exploratory analyses indicated that lack of social support may further increase anxiety.
conclusionHealthcare use changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. It was associated with a decrease in health status, and increased psychological stress among patients with chronic cardiopulmonary disorders. Provision of healthcare should be more sensitive to the mental health needs of these patients during subsequent COVID-19 waves.
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