Giuseppe A Ramirez1, Maria Gerosa2, Lorenzo Beretta3, Chiara Bellocchi4, Lorenza M Argolini2, Luca Moroni5, Emanuel Della Torre5, Carolina Artusi2, Selene Nicolosi3, Roberto Caporali2, Enrica P Bozzolo6, Lorenzo Dagna5. 1. Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: ramirez.giuseppealvise@hsr.it. 2. Department of Clinical Science of Community Health and Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Unit of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini -CTO, Milan, Italy. 3. Referral Center for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 4. Referral Center for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 5. Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. 6. Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease characterised by autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. COVID-19 is a systemic viral disease currently spreading as a pandemic. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 in patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: to acquire information on the impact of COVID-19 in SLE. METHODS: A 26-item anonymous questionnaire investigating demographics, SLE clinical features, COVID-19 diagnoses and changes in treatments and daily habits was administered to patients with SLE from three referral centres through www.surveymonkey.com over 10 days. Data from the survey were compared to those from published estimates about the general population. RESULTS: Four-hundred-seventeen patients responded to the survey. More than 60% of subjects complained of symptoms that are also associated to COVID-19. Fourteen COVID-19 diagnoses (five confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) were reported, in contrast to a 0.73% prevalence of confirmed cases in Lombardy. One hospitalisation was reported. Fever, anosmia, dry cough, a self-reported history of neuropsychiatric SLE and a recent contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases were more strongly associated with COVID-19, as were symptoms and lower compliance to behavioural preventive measures in patients' contacts. No protective effect was seen in subjects on hydroxychloroquine. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 morbidity might only moderately be increased in most patients with SLE, although limited information can be inferred on more severe cases. Hydroxychloroquine apparently seems not to confer protection to infection per se, although other beneficial roles cannot be excluded. Containment policies and behavioural preventive measures could have a major role in limiting the impact of COVID-19 in patients with SLE.
BACKGROUND:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease characterised by autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. COVID-19 is a systemic viral disease currently spreading as a pandemic. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 in patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: to acquire information on the impact of COVID-19 in SLE. METHODS: A 26-item anonymous questionnaire investigating demographics, SLE clinical features, COVID-19 diagnoses and changes in treatments and daily habits was administered to patients with SLE from three referral centres through www.surveymonkey.com over 10 days. Data from the survey were compared to those from published estimates about the general population. RESULTS: Four-hundred-seventeen patients responded to the survey. More than 60% of subjects complained of symptoms that are also associated to COVID-19. Fourteen COVID-19 diagnoses (five confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) were reported, in contrast to a 0.73% prevalence of confirmed cases in Lombardy. One hospitalisation was reported. Fever, anosmia, dry cough, a self-reported history of neuropsychiatric SLE and a recent contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases were more strongly associated with COVID-19, as were symptoms and lower compliance to behavioural preventive measures in patients' contacts. No protective effect was seen in subjects on hydroxychloroquine. CONCLUSION:COVID-19 morbidity might only moderately be increased in most patients with SLE, although limited information can be inferred on more severe cases. Hydroxychloroquine apparently seems not to confer protection to infection per se, although other beneficial roles cannot be excluded. Containment policies and behavioural preventive measures could have a major role in limiting the impact of COVID-19 in patients with SLE.
Authors: Ales Janda; Catharina Schuetz; Scott Canna; Mark Gorelik; Maximilian Heeg; Kirsten Minden; Claas Hinze; Ansgar Schulz; Klaus-Michael Debatin; Christian M Hedrich; Fabian Speth Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2021-03-08 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Nevena Rebić; Jamie Y Park; Ria Garg; Ursula Ellis; Ayano Kelly; Eileen Davidson; Mary A De Vera Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2021-07-05 Impact factor: 5.178