Eur J Musculoskel Dis 2022 Jan-Apr;11(1):15-21
REVIEW
GENDER AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES IN THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF ORTHOPAEDIC PATIENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
L. Moretti1§, D. Bizzoca2*§, E. Vitale3, M. Delmedico1, A. Spinarelli1, A. Piazzolla1, A.M. Moretti4, B. Moretti1, and G. Solarino1
1Orthopaedic and Trauma Unit – UOSD Vertebral Surgery, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and
Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy;
2PhD course in Public Health, Clinical Medicine, and Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy;
3Mental Health Center in Modugno, Local Health Company;
4President of GISEG (Gruppo Italiano Salute e Genere)
§co-first authors
*Correspondence to:
Dr Davide Bizzoca MD,
UOSD Vertebral Surgery,
AOU Consorziale Policlinico di Bari,
Bari, Italy
e-mail: da.bizzoca@gmail.com
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Received: 18 October, 2021
Copyright: |
ISSN: 2038-4106 This publication and/or article is for individual use only and may not be further reproduced without written permission from the copyright holder. Unauthorized reproduction may result in financial and other penalties. Disclosure: All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.
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ABSTRACT
This observational study aims to depict the impact of gender and socio-economic issues on the health status of Italian Orthopaedic patients during the COVID-19 lockdown. An Ad Hoc questionnaire was developed and administered online. The following data were extracted from the questionnaire: age, body mass index (BMI), education level, distance from hospital, orthopaedic disease, concomitant medical comorbidities, living status (with/without cohabitants) and physical activity level (according to Tegner Activity Scale). The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown was studied by analysing differences related to the parameters mentioned above. A significant increase in the call number to general practitioners and the orthopaedic surgeon was observed during the COVID lockdown, especially in patients with higher education levels. Reduced compliance in drug assumption was observed in patients with higher education levels during the lockdown (p=0.007). Almost all the analysed items were significantly influenced by the distance between the patient’s domicile and the nearest hospital. However, no significant differences were observed comparing the pre-COVID to COVID lockdown. Patients’ gender and education level in the present study revealed a significant impact on their social behaviour during the COVID lockdown, compared with the pre-COVID period.
KEYWORDS: Covid-19 perception, generaKe l well-being, orthopaedic patients, gender, pandemic, socio-economic issues
