Read our rheumatologists answers to the most common questions on this subject. COVID-19 infection is more serious, when you have a rheumatic disease under immunosuppressing therapeutics (biological or conventional)? Based on the information available at the moment, there is no evidence that this group of patients is a risk group, that would develop more serious forms of infection by COVID-19 . However, these patients may have an increased risk of complications. Therefore, these are patients that should reduce social contacts to the strictly essential, besides the general measures to be taken against any viral respiratory infection. Should I suspend or reduce the dosage of my immunosuppressants (biological or conventional), during the COVID-19 pandemic? You should never change your immunosuppressing medication, without consulting your attending rheumatologist. Can I take medication of prophylactic and therapeutic effect for infection by COVID-19? Until now, there are not yet medications with strong evidence of prophylactic or therapeutic effects for the infection by COVID-19. I take biological immunosuppressing medication. Must I deliver the prescription on paper at the hospital? Some hospital pharmacies are implementing the dematerialised prescription, meaning that the biological medications can be picked up without a prescription on paper, the hospital prescription issued being sufficient. The medication can be picked up by the patient upon identification or by third-parties (see following answer). I take biological immunosuppressing medication. Must I go to the hospital pharmacy to get it? In some hospital pharmacies, it is possible for others to pick up medication, provided that they have a written declaration by the patient identifying his name, process or username and identifying also the person who will pick up the medication. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you can request the system of collection and delivery at home of biological medications of exclusive hospital dispensation. Patients will have to send a declaration authorizing the collection of the medication and respective delivery at his domicile, addressed to A.N.D.A.R, via e-mail covid19@domani.pro . In A.N.D.A.R. website it is possible to download the proxy for the delivery of medication. I have a routine rheumatology consultation. Should I attend it? You should ask your attending rheumatologist if the face-to-face consultation is essential at the scheduled time, if you can reschedule it for later or if you should do it by video consultation or phone consultation. I still have not been vaccinated against the influenza virus nor against pneumococcus. Should I do it now? It is important to complete the vaccination plan, since 8% of severe infections such as COVID-19 are complicated with superinfections. For more information, reliable sources are: World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak Normas gerais da Direção Geral da Saúde EULAR guidance for patients: Covid-19 outbreak Competent authorities and doctors are closely monitoring this situation and if new recommendations arise, patients will be alerted. Author : Maria Paula Araújo Meet the Rheumatology team of Hospital da Luz network . Click here for more information and advice of Hospital da Luz about the novel coronavírus COVID-19 epidemic . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
