Author:
Kharouf Fadi,Eviatar Tali,Braun Maya,Pokroy-Shapira Elisheva,Brodavka Michal,Zloof Yair,Agmon-Levin Nancy,Toledano Kochava,Oren Shirly,Lidar Merav,Zisman Devy,Tavor Yonit,Amit-Vazina Mirit,Sabbah Firas,Breuer Gabriel S.,Dagan Amir,Beshara-Garzuzi Rima,Markovits Doron,Elias Muna,Feld Joy,Tayer-Shifman Oshrat,Gazitt Tal,Reitblatt Tatiana,Rubin Limor,Haddad Amir,Giryes Sami,Paran Daphna,Peleg Hagit,Molad Yair,Elkayam Ori,Mevorach Dror,Balbir-Gurman Alexandra,Braun-Moscovici Yolanda
Abstract
ObjectiveWe aimed to characterize the course of COVID-19 in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD) patients in Israel, taking into consideration several remarkable aspects, including the outcomes of the different outbreaks, the effect of vaccination campaigns, and AIIRD activity post-recovery.MethodsWe established a national registry of AIIRD patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including demographic data, AIIRD diagnosis, duration and systemic involvement, comorbidities, date of COVID-19 diagnosis, clinical course, and dates of vaccinations. COVID-19 was diagnosed by a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction.ResultsIsrael experienced 4 outbreaks of COVID-19 until 30.11.2021. The first three outbreaks (1.3.2020 – 30.4.2021) comprised 298 AIIRD patients. 64.9% had a mild disease and 24.2% had a severe course; 161 (53.3%) patients were hospitalized, 27 (8.9%) died. The 4th outbreak (delta variant), starting 6 months after the beginning of the vaccination campaign comprised 110 patients. Despite similar demographic and clinical characteristics, a smaller proportion of AIIRD patients had negative outcomes as compared to the first 3 outbreaks, with regards to severity (16 patients,14.5%), hospitalization (29 patients, 26.4%) and death (7 patients, 6.4%). COVID-19 did not seem to influence the AIIRD activity 1-3 months post-recovery.ConclusionsCOVID-19 is more severe and has an increased mortality in active AIIRD patients with systemic involvement, older age and comorbidities. Vaccination with 3 doses of the mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 protected from severe COVID-19, hospitalization and death during the 4th outbreak. The pattern of spread of COVID-19 in AIIRD patients was similar to the general population.
Subject
Immunology,Immunology and Allergy