[Severe COVID-19 and outcomes in patients with rheumatic disease]

Infections increase morbidity and mortality in patients with autoimmune disorders; however, this association has not been established in rheumatic diseases and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To describe the clinical characteristics and mortality of patients with rheumatic diseases and severe COVID-19.

Observational and descriptive case series in patients with rheumatic diseases and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed by PCR or pulmonary tomography, hospitalized in Mexico City from March to August 2020.

15 patients with a mean age of 57 years (SD ± 11) were included, 66.6% were women, and 80% had a positive PCR test. The time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization, on average, was 7.2 days (SD ± 2.1). 46.6% died. Patients who died had a lower mean platelet level compared to survivors. The inflammatory reactants were higher in the deceased. There were no statistically significant differences in mortality for the variables related to rheumatic disease.

The differences in mortality of patients with severe COVID-19 in this series of cases seem to be related to the infection and not to the rheumatic disease.