Pain and function deteriorate in patients awaiting total joint arthroplasty that has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Table 1 Coronavirus disease 2019 arthroplasty waiting list questionnaire response results

Section I: Demographic data
Age in yr, mean ± SD	50.28 ± 8.9
Gender, n (%)
Male	63 (34.05)
Female	122 (65.95)
TJA, n (%)
TKA	106 (57.3)
THA	79 (42.7)
Awaiting TJA in mo, mean ± SD	26.42 ± 30.1
Number of comorbidities, n (%)
0	59 (31.89)
1	95 (51.35)
2	29 (15.68)
3	2 (1.08)
Comorbidities, n (%)
DM	27 (14.59)
HPT	89 (48.11)
TB	5 (2.70)
Cardiac disease	9 (4.86)
Asthma	12 (6.49)
Lung disease	5 (2.70)
HIV	18 (9.73)
Demand for TJA despite COVID-19 pandemic, n (%)
Yes	163 (88.11)
No	22 (11.89)
Section II: Pain and function
Joint pain since postponement of TJA, n (%)
Decreased	23 (12.64)
Same	58 (31.87)
Increased	101 (55.49)
Access to pain medication, n (%)
Yes	90 (72)
No	35 (28)
NRS pain score, mean ± SD	7.37 ± 2.24
Current state in comparison to before TJA postponement	n (%)
Functionality due to joint pain
Much less	24 (13.11)
Less	99 (54.1)
Same	50 (27.32)
More	5 (2.73)
Much more	5 (2.73)
Walking distance
Much less	30 (16.3)
Less	59 (32.07)
Same	88 (47.83)
More	6 (3.26)
Much more	1 (0.54)
Sitting
Much less	18 (9.89)
Less	57 (31.32)
Same	101 (55.49)
More	6 (3.3)
Much more	0 (0)
Sleep
Much less	25 (13.59)
Less	25 (13.59)
Same	104 (56.52)
More	20 (10.87)
Much more	10 (5.43)
Need for pain medication
Much less	8 (4.57)
Less	12 (6.86)
Same	74 (42.29)
More	47 (26.86)
Much more	34 (19.43)
Section III: Mental health	n (%)
Weight change since TJA postponement
Lost	33 (25.98)
Same	56 (44.09)
Gained	38 (29.92)
Feelings of isolation or loneliness
Yes	59 (32.78)
No	121 (67.22)
Anxiety to get infected with COVID-19
No	28 (15.3)
Minimal	20 (10.93)
Neutral	22 (12.02)
Moderate	47 (25.68)
Severe	66 (36.07)
Anxiety to spread COVID-19 to relatives
No	28 (15.64)
Minimal	17 (9.5)
Neutral	14 (7.82)
Moderate	39 (21.79)
Severe	81 (45.25)
Anxiety about Finances due to COVID-19
No	18 (10)
Minimal	20 (11.11)
Neutral	82 (45.56)
Moderate	40 (22.22)
Severe	20 (11.11)
Section IV: Insight
Understanding of healthcare system response to COVID-19	n (%)
Aware no elective surgery
Yes	137 (74.05)
No	48 (25.95)
Fair no elective surgery
Yes	157 (84.86)
No	28 (15.14)
Important to delay elective surgery
Yes	162 (87.57)
No	23 (12.43)
Knowledge of preventative measures	n (%)
Hand washing
Yes	124 (67.03)
No	62 (32.97)
Social distancing
Yes	124 (67.03)
No	62 (32.97)
Wearing mask in public
Yes	123 (66.49)
No	63 (33.51)
Peri-operative patient considerations for COVID-19	n (%)
Routine pre-operative screening
Yes	122 (89.1)
No	15 (10.9)
Increased morbidity if COVID-19 positive
Yes	120 (88.9)
No	15 (11.1)
No visitors allowed
Yes	114 (87)
No	17 (13)
Increased mortality if COVID-19 positive
Yes	92 (67.2)
No	45 (32.8)
Patient education and counselling
Still demand TJA despite COVID-19 pandemic	n (%)
Yes	100 (54.05)
No	85 (45.95)

COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; DM: Diabetes mellitus; HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; HPT: Hypertension; NRS: Numerical rating scale; SD: Standard deviation; TB: Tuberculosis; THA: Total hip arthroplasty; TJA: Total joint arthroplasty; TKA: Total knee arthroplasty.