Severeness of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases: A retrospective study from eastern China

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants associated with the severity of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients suffering from rheumatic diseases (RD) in light of the comprehensive recalibration of China's epidemic prevention and control policy, instituted on December 7, 2022. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 301 RD patients who were infected with COVID-19 between December 7, 2022, and February 7, 2023. The collected clinical data were thoroughly scrutinized and the contributory factors to pulmonary inflammation in patients diagnosed with RD-COVID-19 were identified through χ2 testing and logistic regression analysis. Results The study found that gender, particularly male, along with the type of RD manifesting as systemic autoimmune conditions (SAC) and the co-occurrence of comorbidities (namely cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, interstitial lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) function as independent risk factors for pulmonary inflammation in RD-COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, patients who had received the third dosage of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, as well as those administered with methotrexate and leflunomide, exhibited a diminished risk of lung inflammation. Conclusion The study concluded that male SAC-COVID-19 patients with concurrent comorbidities were at a heightened risk of severe illness, whereas anti-rheumatic treatment did not escalate the severity. An enhanced vaccination protocol, on the other hand, was found to significantly curtail the incidence of lung inflammation.