Prevalence of COVID infections in a population of rheumatic patients from Lombardy and Marche treated with biological drugs or small molecules: A multicentre retrospective study. Issue 116 (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Marotto, Daniela; Caporali, Roberto; Montecucco, Carlo Maurizio; Favalli, Ennio Giulio; Franceschini, Franco; Fredi, Michela; Balduzzi, Silvia; Bazzani, Chiara; Bongiovanni, Sara; Giorgi, Valeria; Batticciotto, Alberto; Cappelli, Antonella; Balzarini, Patrizia; Dagna, Lorenzo; Sartorelli, Silvia; Ravagnani, Viviana; Tamanini, Silvia; Farah, Sonia; Faggioli, Paola; Castelnovo, Laura; Lurati, Alfredo Maria; Galli, Massimo; Salaffi, Fausto
• Is Part Of: Journal of autoimmunity. Issue 116(2020)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: COVID 19 -- Rheumatic disease -- Dmards -- Biologics -- Small molecules -- Infections -- Registries; WHO World Health Organisation -- MERS Middle East respiratory syndrome -- SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome -- COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- CHD coronary heart disease -- DMARDs disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs -- HCQ hydroxychloroquine -- CQ chloroquine -- SDAI Simplified Disease Activity Index -- DAS28 Disease Activity Score 28 -- DAPSA Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis -- BASDAI Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index -- SLEDAI Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index -- RA rheumatoid arthritis -- HLA human leukocyte antigen -- ACR American College of Rheumatology; Autoimmunity -- Periodicals; Autoimmune diseases -- Periodicals; Autoantibodies -- Periodicals; Autoimmune Diseases -- Periodicals; Auto-immunité -- Périodiques; Maladies auto-immunes -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.978005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102545
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0896-8411

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about the management of systemic immunosuppressive treatments for rheumatic conditions. It is well known that rheumatic patients are at risk of developing infections because of their immunocompromised state. Moreover, drugs such as hydroxychloroquine or tocilizumab that are widely used to treat rheumatic diseases are now being used to treat COVID-19. The aim of this multicentre retrospective study of rheumatic patients in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Marche was to determine whether patients receiving biological or small molecules treatment are more susceptible to the development of COVID-19 than the general population. Methods: The local registry data of 10, 260 rheumatic patients being treated with bDMARDs or small molecules were evaluated from 15 March to 23 April 2020. The final analysis was based on the registry data relating to 7.204, telephone contacts and/or outpatient visits. Results: Forty-seven of the 7.204 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, seven of whom died; the patients who had symptoms resembling those of COVID-19 but had negative swabs were considered negative for the disease. The overall infection rate was 0.65, and the crude case fatality risk (CFR) in the patients with COVID-19 was 14.9%. There was no difference in the mortality rate among the patients receiving the different individual biological drugs or small molecules. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the susceptibility of rheumatic patients to COVID-19 is the same as that of the general population, but confirm that age, disease duration, and the number of co-morbidities are associated with an increased risk of a severe form of the disease. It seems that immunosuppressants drugs do not effectively represent a risk factor for COVID- 19. Highlights: Rheumatic patients are at risk of developing infections because their immunocompromised state. Biologics or small-molecules would not appear to be related to increased or reduced susceptibility of COVID-19. DMARDS (traditional and biologics) and small molecules can be probably used at different timings of the disease. The use of immunosuppressant for prophylaxis of COVID-19 is still a matter of debate. Patient surveillance and the endorsement of extensive preventive barrier measures is mandatory.