COVID-19-related lockdown (LD) in France precluded in-person follow-up in ALS centres. ALS patients’ evolution and worsening before and during LD were studied to analyse 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, and 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 centre and the GP. Physicians and health authorities should be aware of these issues, in order to try and prevent consequences of future sanitary restrictions.
DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2021.1883669