Rheumatology

While COVID-19 ushered in what many believe to be a long overdue increase in telehealth in rheumatology, whether its benefits justify the potentially diminished doctor-patient relationship remained hotly debated during the EULAR 2021 Congress.

Rheumatology follow-up visit cancellations climbed to 60% during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and were more common for older, rural, Black and Hispanic patients, as well as those of lower socioeconomic status, according to data.

Despite “a high proportion” of women in clinical rheumatology, gender equity was considerably lower in the academic rheumatology setting, according to a member of the EULAR Task Force on Gender Equity in Academic Rheumatology at the EULAR 2021 Congress.

While there are few certainties when it comes to COVID-19, an indisputable body of data shows that individuals who acquire the virus produce a significant number of autoantibodies.

Before I say my piece on this, let me be clear that I am a strong vaccine advocate for all, including my patients with immune-mediated diseases. I am a champion against vaccine hesitancy and like to think my discussions are reflective of shared and informed decision-making.

As we enter year 2 of the pandemic with some glimmers of hope that we may be seeing the beginning of the end, rheumatology as a field has been heavily engaged in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

In a recent article, experts debated the value and relevance of maintenance of certification. It was the top story in rheumatology last week.

The lobster boat tied off at the wharf. It was Ben Shipman, my rheumatoid arthritis patient, and he offered me a ride to Chebeague Island where my medical clinic was scheduled.

With the election of Barack Obama as president or the nomination of Kamala Harris as vice president, some might consider the matter of equal opportunity for non-white people in the United States closed for discussion. Yet, the struggle to eliminate social inequality persists.

It’s hard for me to imagine that a book written in 2006 about events from almost 100 years prior could be so prescient. The Great Influenza, by John Barry, is just that and I urge you all to read it. It’s a cautionary tale, a prophecy if you will, of what can happen in the world where leadership fails, science is ignored and the public is panicked — sound familiar?