Background

Whether patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) have a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and how SARS-CoV-2 pandemic impacts on adherence to therapy has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the rate and clinical presentation of COVID-19, and adherence to therapy in a large cohort of patients with ARD followed-up in a tertiary University-Hospital in Northeast Italy.

Methods

Between April 9th and April 25th^, 2020, after SARS-CoV-2 infection peak, a telephone survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) was administered. Demographics, disease activity status, therapy, occupational exposure, and adherence to social distancing advise were also collected.

Results

916 patients (397 SLE, 182 AAV, 176 SSc, 111 RA, 50 IIM) completed the survey. 148 patients developed at least one symptom compatible with COVID-19 (cough 96, sore throat 64, fever 64, arthromyalgias 59, diarrhea 26, conjunctivitis 18, ageusia/hyposmia, 18). Among the 916 patients, 65 (7.1%) underwent SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab (18 symptomatic and 47 asymptomatic), 2 (0.21%) tested positive, a proportion similar to that observed in the general population of the Veneto region. No deaths occurred. 31 patients (3.4%) withdrew ≥1 medication, mainly immunosuppressants or biologics. Adoption of social distancing was observed by 860 patients (93.9%), including 335 (36.6%) who adopted it before official lockdown.

Conclusions

COVID-19 incidence seems to be similar in our cohort compared to the general population. Adherence to therapy and to social distancing advise was high.

中文翻译：

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意大利东北部自身免疫性风湿病患者的SARS-CoV-2感染：916例患者的横断面研究。

背景

尚未完全阐明患有自身免疫性风湿性疾病（ARD）的患者是否具有较高的SARS-CoV-2感染风险（COVID-19），以及SARS-CoV-2大流行对依从性治疗的影响。我们评估了意大利东北大学医院的一大批ARD随访患者中COVID-19的发生率和临床表现以及对治疗的依从性。

方法

四月九日至四月25日期间^，到2020年，经过SARS-COV-2感染的高峰期，电话调查调查COVID-19的患者系统性红斑狼疮（SLE），系统性硬化症（SSC），类风湿关节炎（RA）的影响，进行ANCA相关性血管炎（AAV）和特发性炎症性肌病（IIM）。还收集了人口统计学，疾病活动状态，治疗，职业暴露以及对社会疏远建议的遵守情况。

结果

916位患者（397 SLE，182 AAV，176 SSc，111 RA，50 IIM）完成了调查。148位患者出现了至少一种与COVID-19兼容的症状（咳嗽96，喉咙痛64，发烧64，关节痛59，腹泻26，结膜炎18，年龄/低血尿症18）。在916名患者中，有65名（7.1％）接受了SARS-CoV-2鼻咽拭子检查（18例有症状，47例无症状），其中2例（0.21％）测试呈阳性，这一比例与威尼托大区普通人群相似。没有死亡发生。31例患者（3.4％）退出了≥1种药物，主要是免疫抑制剂或生物制剂。860例患者（93.9％）采用了社交疏离，其中335例（36.6％）在正式锁定之前采用了社交疏离。

结论

与一般人群相比，我们队列中的COVID-19发病率似乎相似。坚持治疗和远离社交的建议很高。