Low incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in people with PCD

Background: There is little data on SARS-CoV-2 infections in people with rare diseases. We studied incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Method(s): We used data from COVID-PCD, an international participatory study including people with PCD, which started recruitment on 30.05.2020. Participants completed weekly online questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 infections and symptoms. We studied severity of infections reported at baseline or during follow-up while we calculated incidence rates including only infections reported during follow-up. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to study predictors of getting infected. Result(s): By January 23, 2022, 726 people participated (40% male, median age 27 years;range 0-85). 90% of persons above 14 years have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and most (93%) wore facemasks in public. Only 62 (8.5%) had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Severity of disease was mainly mild;11 (18%) were asymptomatic, 47 (76%) had symptoms among whom 4 (6%) were hospitalized (none in the ICU, nobody died). Severity of disease was not associated with age, sex, co-morbidity or vaccination. We had follow-up data from 651 (90%). During 633 person-years of follow-up (median 59 weeks per person), 43 incident SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported (incidence rate 6.9 per 100 person years;95% CI 5.2-9.2). Children (0-14 years) had a higher risk of infection (hazard ratio 3.0;95% CI 1.3-6.8) compared to 15-49 year-olds. Conclusion(s): SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates remained low and severity mainly mild in people with PCD, probably reflecting high vaccination rate and personal protective behaviour.

Incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia

Introduction After two years of COVID-19 pandemic, there is still little data on incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We aimed to study incidence of SARS-CoV-2, severity of disease vaccination status, and social contact behaviour in people with PCD and study factors associated with risk of infection and risk of severe disease. Method COVID-PCD is an international participatory cohort study which started recruitment on 30.05.2020. Participants completed weekly online questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 infections and symptoms. We studied severity of infections reported at baseline or during follow-up while we calculated incidence rates including only infections reported during followup. We studied factors associated with risk of infection using Poisson regression. Results By 10.05.2022, 728 people with PCD participated (40% male, median age 27 years;range 0-85). 90% of persons above 14 years were vaccinated against COVID-19 and most (93%) wore facemasks in public. In total, 87 (11.7%) reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We had follow-up data from 664 persons (90%) and during 716 person-years (median 61 weeks per person), 62 incident SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported (incidence rate 8.7 per 100 person years;95%CI 6.8- 11). Risk of infection was lower in adults compared to children (IRR: 0.39, 95%CI 0.20-0.77), higher in the United Kingdom compared to other countries (IRR: 1.85, 95%CI 1.08-3.19), and higher between Sep 2021 - May 2022 compared to MarNov 2020 (IRR: 1.20, 95%CI 1.05-1.38). Severity of disease was mainly mild;12 (14%) were asymptomatic, 75 (86%) had symptoms among whom 4 were hospitalized (none in the ICU, nobody died). Severity was not associated with age sex, co-morbidity, or vaccination. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates remained low and severity mainly mild in people with PCD, probably reflecting high vaccination rate and personal protective behaviour.