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Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent effects on healthcare systems is having a significant effect on the management of long-term autoimmune conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the problems faced by patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM)., Methods: An anonymized eSurvey was carried out with a focus on effects on disease control, continuity of medical care, drug procurance and prevalent fears in the patient population., Results: Of the 608 participants (81.1% female, median (s.d.) age 57  (13.9) years), dermatomyositis was the most frequent subtype (247, 40.6%). Patients reported health-related problems attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 195, 32.1%); specifically 102 (52.3%) required increase in medicines, and 35 (18%) required hospitalization for disease-related complications. Over half (52.7%) of the surveyed patients were receiving glucocorticoids and/or had underlying cardiovascular risk factors (53.8%), placing them at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Almost one in four patients faced hurdles in procuring medicines. Physiotherapy, critical in the management of IIM, was disrupted in 214 (35.2%). One quarter (159, 26.1%) experienced difficulty in contacting their specialist, and 30 (4.9%) were unable to do so. Most (69.6%) were supportive of the increased use of remote consultations to maintain continuity of medical care during the pandemic., Conclusion: This large descriptive study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has incurred a detrimental effect on continuity of medical care for many patients with IIM. There is concern that delays and omissions in clinical care may potentially translate to poorer outcomes in the future., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: To date, there are no descriptions in the literature on gynecologic and sexual function evaluation in female patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM)., Objective: To assess sexual function in female patients with DM/PM., Patients and Methods: This is a monocentric, cross-sectional study in which 23 patients (16 DM and 7 PM), with ages between 18 and 40 years, were compared to 23 healthy women of the same age group. Characteristics on sexual function were obtained by applying the questionnaires Female Sexual Quotient (FSQ) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) validated for the Brazilian Portuguese language., Results: The mean age of patients was comparable to controls (32.7±5.3 vs. 31.7±6.7 years), as well as the distribution of ethnicity and socioeconomic class. As for gynecological characteristics, patients and healthy controls did not differ with respect to age at menarche and percentages of dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome, pain at mid-cycle, mucocervical secretion, and vaginal discharge. The FSQ score, as well as all domains of the FSFI questionnaire (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction), were significantly decreased in patients vs. controls, with 60.9% of patients showing some degree of sexual dysfunction., Conclusions: This was the first study to identify sexual dysfunction in patients with DM/PM. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is essential for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, in order to provide prevention and care for their sexual life, providing a better quality of life, both for patients and their partners., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Background: Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are rare, chronic inflammatory diseases leading to muscle weakness and low muscle endurance. The muscle weakness may lead to restrictions in daily activities and low health-related quality of life., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the work situation, work ability, work-related risk factors, and influence of the physical and psycho-social work environment in patients with PM and DM., Methods: Patients with PM/DM were assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI), and the Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS)., Results: Forty-eight patients (PM n = 25 and DM n = 23) participated (women/men: 29/19) with a mean age of 54 years (range 28-67 years, SD.10) and mean disease duration of nine years (SD.9). Forty-four percent worked full-time, 31% part-time and 25% were on full-time sick leave. More than 50% self-rated work ability as "poor" or "less good". Physically strenuous work components were present "quite to very often" in 23-79% and more in patients on sick leave ≥ 2 years. For those working, the interfering factors in the work environment concerned task and time demands. Supporting factors concerned meaning of work, interactions with co-workers and others. Self-rated work ability correlated moderately-highly positive with percentage of full-time employment, work-related risk factors and opportunities and constraints in the work environment., Conclusions: Poor self-rated work ability is common in patients with PM/DM indicating a need to identify interfering risk factors and support patients to enhance work performance.

Objective: To develop a disease-specific questionnaire for assessing limitations in activities of daily life, the Myositis Activities Profile (MAP), and to investigate its validity and reliability., Methods: Groups of 10, 27, 31, and 17 patients with polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) participated in different parts of the study. In the first draft of the MAP, patients rated their difficulty and experienced importance of selected activities from the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps (ICIDH)-2 Beta-2 draft. The 37 highest rated activities formed a second draft of the MAP, which was analyzed for internal redundancy and consistency. For construct validity a third draft was correlated with CPK levels, the Functional Index in myositis (FI), the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-2 (AIMS2), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and subjective global disease impact. Test-retest reliability over one week was investigated., Results: There were several expected correlations (rs > 0.50) between subscales of the MAP and corresponding subscales of the AIMS2, and a 31 item MAP correlated moderately with the HAQ (rs = 0.70) and less with the FI (rs = 0.55), subjective global disease impact (rs = 0.43), and CPK levels (rs = 0.17). No systematic differences were found between test and retest, and weighted kappa coefficients ranged from Kw = 0.56 to 0.77., Conclusion: The MAP seems to be a valid and reliable method for assessing activity limitations in patients with PM and DM.

Twenty patients with myasthenia gravis and 15 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis were assessed with a structured interview. Fifteen patients (43%) were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Significantly more myasthenic patients (40%) than polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients (7%) were diagnosed with panic disorder/agoraphobia. These findings suggest that the symptoms of myasthenia gravis may predispose vulnerable individuals to panic disorder/agoraphobia.