Increased worsening of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients during Covid-19-related lockdown in France

Abstract

Covid-19-related lockdown (LD) in France precluded in-person follow-up in referral ALS centers. ALS patients' evolution and worsening before and during LD were studied to analyze its impact. A total of 84 patients were identified. The monthly rate of ALSFRS-R decline during LD was 1.06 ± 1.42 and was significantly increased compared to the pre-LD period, 0.58 ± 0.73, corresponding to an 83% increase (p = 0.007). Weight loss was unchanged between pre-LD and LD, gender and site of onset did not influence the rates of change of ALSFRS-R score. Several factors may be implicated in this increased severity of ALS during LD, such as psychological consequences of LD, interruptions of physiotherapy and speech therapy, or in-patient visits both to the tertiary center and the GP. Physicians and health authorities should be aware of that, in order to prevent the consequences of future sanitary restrictions.

Keywords: ALSFRS-R; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Covid-19; lockdown; worsening.