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COVID GEAS: COVID-19 National Survey in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Borja Del Carmelo Gracia1, Luis Sáez2, Lucio Pallarés3

  • 1Sytemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.

Frontiers in Medicine
|February 14, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Individuals with systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD) on anti-TNF-alpha therapy had a significantly higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, COVID-19 cases in this population were generally mild.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD) are not well-defined.
  • Understanding risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in rheumatic disease populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate demographic and clinical factors associated with COVID-19 infection in individuals with rheumatic diseases.
  • To analyze the impact of specific treatments on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in SAD patients.

Main Methods:

  • A two-phase cross-sectional survey was conducted in April and October 2020.
  • Data collected included COVID-19 infection status, disease severity, demographics, comorbidities, and medications.
  • Multivariate analysis was used to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

  • 1,529 individuals with autoimmune disease diagnoses were included; 50 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
  • Anti-TNF-alpha treatment was significantly associated with an increased risk of infection (OR 3.422, p=0.011).
  • A trend towards increased risk was observed with mycophenolate treatment (OR 2.016, p=0.094).

Conclusions:

  • Anti-TNF-alpha therapy is linked to a greater than threefold risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, though infections were mild.
  • The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in patients with SAD may be higher than in the general population.
  • Significant variations in infection risk exist among different autoimmune diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19 infectionSARS-CoV-2anti-TNFcorticosteroidssurveysystemic autoimmune diseasesystemic erythematosus lupus

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