In:
Current Pharmaceutical Design, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., Vol. 28, No. 24 ( 2022-07), p. 2022-2028
Abstract:
Autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) represent a predisposing condition to COVID-19.
Our prospective, observational multicenter telephone survey study aimed to investigate the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients. Method: The study included 3,918 ASD pts (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) consecutively recruited
between March 2020 and May 2021 at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 and ASD Italian Study Group. The possible development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of a telephone survey using a standardized symptom assessment questionnaire. Results: ASD patients showed a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs. 6.49%; p 〈 0.0001)
but a death rate statistically comparable to the Italian general population (3.65% vs. 2.95%). Among the 328 ASD patients developing COVID-19, 17% needed hospitalization, while mild-moderate manifestations were observed in 83% of cases. Moreover, 12/57 hospitalized patients died due to severe interstitial pneumonia
and/or cardiovascular events; systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients showed a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate compared to the general population (6.29% vs. 2.95%; p=0.018). Major adverse prognostic factors to
develop COVID-19 were: older age, male gender, SSc, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and long-term steroid treatment. Of note, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic
drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs. 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the SSc patients treated with low dose aspirin (with 5.57% vs.
without 27.84%; p=0.000). Conclusion: During the first three pandemic waves, ASD patients showed a death rate comparable to the general
population despite the significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19. A significantly increased COVID-19- related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients’ subgroup, possibly favored by preexisting lung fibrosis.
Moreover, ongoing long-term treatment with csDMARDs in ASD might usefully contribute to the generally positive outcomes of this frail patients’ population.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1381-6128
DOI:
10.2174/1381612828666220614151732
Language:
English
Publisher:
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Publication Date:
2022
SSG:
15,3
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