Outcomes of COVID-19 in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Assessment of COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Among Patients With Autoimmune Diseases at King Abdulaziz University Hospital

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised significant concerns about the effects of the virus on patients with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, understanding the COVID-19 outcomes in this population is crucial for effective prevention and management. Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between autoimmune diseases and the severity of COVID-19 in terms of mortality and morbidity. Despite substantial advancements in pandemic-related research concerning COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases, there remain noteworthy gaps in our comprehension of this association, particularly due to limited investigations conducted in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a retrospective record review of a tertiary center from January 2020 to January 2022. We included 120 patients, among whom 40 were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, and 80 were age- and sex-matched controls. Afterward, we assessed their demographics, year of admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, health status, length of hospitalization, comorbidities, diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, and type of immunosuppressant therapy. Results Most of the included patients (mean age: 45.4 years) were females (65.8%). The ratio of non-autoimmune diseases to autoimmune diseases was 2:1, the mean length of hospitalization was 8.83 ± 8.16 days, and the median was seven days (interquartile range (IQR) = 3 to 11 days). Among them, 17.5% were admitted to the ICU and 10% died. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases was higher in women than in men (77.5%). The most common diseases were systemic lupus erythematosus (40%), rheumatoid arthritis (20%), and ankylosing spondylitis (10%). Regarding COVID-19 outcomes, ICU admissions were higher among patients with autoimmune diseases than those with non-autoimmune diseases (35% vs. 8.8%) (p<0.05). This trend was also observed in mortality, with a higher percentage of deaths among patients with autoimmune diseases (27.5% vs. 1.7%) (p<0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences between genders in terms of ICU admission, health status outcomes, or length of hospitalization among patients with autoimmune diseases (p>0.05). Notably, 25 patients were administered immunosuppressants. Of these, 18 (72%) used steroids only, while seven (28%) used both biological and steroid therapy. However, no significant associations were observed between the type of treatment used and outcomes such as ICU admission, health status at discharge, and length of hospitalization (p>0.05).  Conclusion This study suggests that individuals with autoimmune diseases have more severe COVID-19 outcomes, as shown by ICU admission and mortality rates, than patients with non-autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, we observed that the use of immunosuppressant medications among patients with autoimmune diseases showed no noticeable effect on these outcomes.

Clinical Course and Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Patients Treated with Rituximab: A Tertiary Care Center Experience

Introduction

Patients receiving rituximab (RTX) may be at increased risk for severe Coronavirus infections and worse outcomes compared with the general population. Because of the conflicting results concerning the effect of RTX on the clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 infection, we aimed to share our experience with 35 patients infected with COVID-19 while treated with RTX for a variety of clinical indications.

Methods

This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study that included 35 patients. All patients aged ≥14 years who were treated with RTX for various conditions and were found to have COVID-19 infection were included. Patients with poor outcomes or patients with suspected COVID-19 infection were excluded.

Results

The patients' mean age was 42.8 ± 16.3 years with an average BMI of 29.9 ± 11.4 kg/m2. Over half (51.4%, n = 18) of the patients received RTX at a dose of 375 mg/m2 with a median frequency of 4 doses. More than a third (37.1%, n = 13) of the patients had hypogammaglobulinemia and 25.7% had low CD19. Over a third (42.9%, n= 15) of the patients required hospitalization and almost a third (25.7%, n = 9) required treatment in the intensive care unit. There was a statistically significant association between intensive care unit admission and age, steroid use, and low CD19. The mortality rate was 25.7%, and it was significantly higher in elderly, diabetics, corticosteroid users, patients who were hospitalized, treated in the intensive care unit, and had low immunoglobin or CD19.

Conclusion

Treatment with RTX seems to be a potential risk factor for unfavorable outcomes in COVID-19 patients. RTX should be used with caution or avoided unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk.