TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in northeast Italy: A cross-sectional study on 916 patients
AU - Zen, M
AU - Fuzzi, E
AU - Astorri, D
AU - Saccon, F
AU - Padoan, R
AU - Ienna, L
AU - Cozzi, G
AU - Depascale, R
AU - Zanatta, E
AU - Gasparotto, M
AU - Benvenuti, F
AU - Bindoli, S
AU - Gatto, M
AU - Felicetti, M
AU - Ortolan, Augusta
AU - Campaniello, D
AU - Larosa, M
AU - Lorenzin, M
AU - Ramonda, R
AU - Sfriso, P
AU - Schiavon, F
AU - Iaccarino, L
AU - Doria, A
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - ANCA vasculitis
KW - Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
KW - Systemic sclerosis
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Systemic lupus erythematosus
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
KW - ANCA vasculitis
KW - Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
KW - Systemic sclerosis
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Systemic lupus erythematosus
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/305240
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102502
DO - 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102502
M3 - Article
SN - 0896-8411
VL - 112
SP - N/A-N/A
JO - Journal of Autoimmunity
JF - Journal of Autoimmunity
ER -