OBJECTIVES : Patients with Chronic Medical Conditions (CMC) require regular access to healthcare professionals and have to take long-term treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic may affect their clinical outcomes. The present study aims to assess the first post-lockdown impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on CMC patients living in the United States.

METHODS : This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted online on the Carenity platform from June 3rd, 2020 to October 7th, 2020. It included adult patients from the United States, living with any CMC.

RESULTS : 492 CMC patients were included in the study, 82% woman, mean age 53 years old, and most frequently affected by multiple sclerosis (33%), asthma (14%), type 2 diabetes (13%) or depression (13%). 79% of them were taking a long-term treatment for their CMC. 20% modified their treatment intake, 31% of whom without notifying their doctor. Medical consultations were strongly impacted: from the start of the pandemic, 24% of patients had difficulty in finding an available doctor, and 26% consulted their doctor less frequently since the end of the lockdown (33% during lockdown). 79% of patients had long-planned medical consultations or procedures canceled because of the pandemic. Of those, 55% were not rescheduled. 41% consider their health status to have deteriorated due to the modification of their disease management during the lockdown. 62% of patients used tele-consultation: 88% of them deemed it satisfactory and 69% were willing to use it for their CMC follow-up in the future. Patients also reported lacking information, mainly regarding treatment-related risks, and precautions when returning to work. 22% were not satisfied with the information they received since the beginning of the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS : COVID-related changes in CMC patients’ behavior and medical care may have potential health consequences. They should be closely monitored to make sure CMC patients are not the collateral victims of the pandemic.