Table 3 Impact of COVID-19 on rare disease patients in different regions across the world
Europe [12] | USA [13] | Canada [14] | Ireland [15] | This study: Asia Pacific region | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Faced challenges accessing medical care or treatment | 48% | 32% | Nearly 50% | 31% | 66% |
2. Difficulty accessing medical care: scheduled appointments postponed or cancelled | 66% | 79% | Nearly 50% | 53% | 68%* |
3. Feeling concerned about their rare health condition because of COVID-19 | / | / | 75% | 73% | 20%* |
4. Difficulty accessing medicines | 21% | 14% | Nearly 40% | / | 58% |
5. Trouble procuring personal protective equipment | / | 9.5% | / | / | 55% |
6. General impacts [% of patients impacted in some degree; % of patients that were very or extremely impacted] | / | 92% | / | / | 95%; 57% |
7. Negative impact on physical health or wellbeing | 59% | / | / | 59% | 36%* |
8. Negative impact on mental health or well-being | 67% | 94% | Nearly 50% | 62% | 29%* |
9. Negative impact on social health or well-being | / | / | / | / | 57%* |
10. Negative financial impact (i.e. loss of income or job) | / | 37% | / | 33% | 14%* |