INCIDENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ADHESIVE CAPSULITIS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate a possible increase of adhesive capsulitis incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 1,983 patients with shoulder disorders were retrospectively analyzed regarding gender, age, development of adhesive capsulitis and comorbidities (systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, depression, and anxiety) in two different periods: from March 2019 to February 2020 and from March 2020 to February 2021. Descriptive and quantitative variables were statistically analyzed. The program used for the calculations was SPSS 17.0 for Windows. Results: During the pandemic, there was a 2.41-fold increase (p < 0.001) in cases of adhesive capsulitis (compared to the previous year). Patients with depression and anxiety had a significantly increased risk by 8.8 (p < 0.001) and 14 (p < 0.001) times, respectively, of developing frozen shoulder (regarding the two periods studied). Conclusion: A significant increase in the incidence of frozen shoulder was observed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to a simultaneous increase of psychosomatic disorders. Prospective studies would help to ratify the idea contained in this research. Level of Evidence III, Observational Cross-Sectional Study.