Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilitsation and psychosocial well-being of children with neuromuscular disorder

Objectives: To examine the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare utilization and psychosocial wellbeing of children with neuromuscular disorder (NMD)

Method: Parents of 41 children with NMD and 164 age & gender-matched healthy control subjects age 3 – 12 years completed an online survey in April 2020 during COVID-19-related school closure in Hong Kong. Emotional/behavioural difficulties, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), lifestyle habits of children with NMD were compared with healthy children using independent two-sample t-test. HRQOL of children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was compared before vs. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: A total of 73.8% and 71.4% of NMD children reported disruption of rehabilitation training and medical appointment respectively. PedsQL total score in NMD children was significantly lower than healthy children (55.66 vs 81.61, p<0.001). Parental guidance on the usage of electronic devices was positively correlated with both physical modules and the total score of PedsQL in NMD children (PCC=0.521, p<0.01; PCC=0.354, p<0.05). SMA children who continued to have Nusinersen during the pandemic showed a higher PedsQL total score (50.27 vs 37.66, p=0.038) compared to their scores taken from pre-COVID-19 period.

Conclusion: Children with NMD have poorer quality of life compared to healthy children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parental guidance on usage of electronic device can facilitate better physical functioning and quality of life in children with NMD. Our study also highlights the importance of continuation of drug treatment and rehabilitation care so to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of children with NMD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; psychosocial well-being; Neuromuscular disorder; children