Health information use by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted an international survey of patients with SLE to assess their access, preference and trust in various health information sources pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Patients with SLE were recruited from 18 observational cohorts, and patients self-reporting SLE were recruited through five advocacy organisations. Respondents completed an online survey from June 2020 to December 2021 regarding the sources of health information they accessed in the 12 months preceding (pre-11 March 2020) and during (post-11 March 2020) the pandemic. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed factors associated with accessing news and social media post-11 March 2020, and self-reporting negative impacts from health information accessed through these sources. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 2111 respondents; 92.8% were female, 76.6% had postsecondary education, mean (SD) age was 48.8 (14.0) years. Lupus specialists and family physicians were the most preferred sources pre-11 March 2020 and post-11 March 2020, yet were accessed less frequently (specialists: 78.5% pre vs 70.2% post, difference -8.3%, 95% CI -10.2% to -6.5%; family physicians: 57.1% pre vs 50.0% post, difference -7.1%, 95% CI -9.2% to -5.0%), while news (53.2% pre vs 62.1% post, difference 8.9%, 95% CI 6.7% to 11.0%) and social media (38.2% pre vs 40.6% post, difference 2.4%, 95% CI 0.7% to 4.2%) were accessed more frequently post-11 March 2020 vs pre-11 March 2020. 17.2% of respondents reported negative impacts from information accessed through news/social media. Those outside Canada, older respondents or with postsecondary education were more likely to access news media. Those in Asia, Latin America or younger respondents were more likely to access social media. Those in Asia, older respondents, males or with postsecondary education in Canada, Asia or the USA were less likely to be negatively impacted. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians, the most preferred and trusted sources, were accessed less frequently, while news and social media, less trusted sources, were accessed more frequently post-11 March 2020 vs pre-11 March 2020. Increasing accessibility to physicians, in person and virtually, may help reduce the consequences of accessing misinformation/disinformation.

Prevalence of ECG testing and characteristics among new hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine users within a multi-center tertiary care center.

COVID-19 raised concern regarding cardiotoxicity and QTc prolongation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ). We examined the frequency and patient factors associated with ECG testing and the detection of prolonged QTc among new HCQ/CQ users in a large academic medical system. 10,248 subjects with a first HCQ/CQ prescription (1/2015-3/2020) were included. We assessed baseline (1 year prior to and including day of initiation of HCQ/CQ through 2 months after initial HCQ/CQ prescription) and follow-up (10 months after the baseline period) patient characteristics and ECGs obtained from electronic health records. Among 8384 female HCQ/CQ new users, ECGs were obtained for 22.3%, 14.3%, and 7.6%, at baseline, follow, and both periods, respectively. Among 1864 male HCQ/CQ new users, ECGs were obtained more frequently at baseline (29.7%), follow-up (18.0%), and both periods (11.3%). Female HCQ/CQ users with a normal QTc at baseline but prolonged QTc (> 470 ms) at follow-up (13.1%) were older at HCQ/CQ initiation [mean 64.7 (SD 16.5) vs. 58.7 (SD 16.9) years, p = 0.004] and more likely to have history of myocardial infarction (41.0% vs. 21.6%, p = 0.0003) compared to those who had normal baseline and follow-up QTc. The frequency of prolonged QTc development was similar (12.4%) among male HCQ/CQ new users (> 450 ms). Prior to COVID-19, ECG testing before and after HCQ/CQ prescription was infrequent, particularly for females who are disproportionately affected by rheumatic diseases and were just as likely to develop prolonged QTc (> 1/10 new users). Prospective studies are needed to guide future management of HCQ/CQ therapy in rheumatic populations.

Cytokine autoantibodies in SARS-CoV-2 prepandemic and intrapandemic samples from an SLE cohort.

Cytokine autoantibodies, particularly those directed to type I interferon (T1IFN), have been reported to portend an increased risk of severe COVID-19. Since SLE is one of the conditions historically associated with T1IFN autoantibodies, we sought to determine the prevalence of cytokine autoantibodies in our local cohort of 173 patients with SLE prepandemic and intrapandemic, of which nine had confirmed exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Autoantibodies to 16 different cytokines, including T1IFN, were measured by an addressable laser bead immunoassay. None of the 9 patients with confirmed exposure to SARS-CoV-2 had autoantibodies to T1IFN and none had severe COVID-19 symptoms, necessitating hospitalisation. Hence, we could not confirm that TIIFN autoantibodies increase the risk for severe COVID-19. In addition, the cytokine autoantibody pattern did not differ between those with and without evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Systematic review: cystic fibrosis in the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the development of life-threatening COVID-19 are believed to disproportionately affect certain at-risk populations. However, it is not clear whether individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at a higher risk of COVID-19 or its adverse consequences. Recurrent respiratory viral infections are often associated with perturbation and pulmonary exacerbations of CF as evidenced by the significant morbidity observed in CF individuals during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The primary goal of this review was to systematically survey published accounts of COVID-19 in CF and determine if individuals with CF are disproportionally affected by SARS-CoV-2 and development of COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search using EMBASE and Medline between April 28 and December 10, 2020. Six evaluable studies reporting on a total of 339 individuals with CF who developed COVID-19 were included in this study. RESULTS: We found that although individuals with CF generally experience acute exacerbations of lung disease from infectious agents, COVID-19 incidence estimates in CF appear to be lower than in the general population. However, there are reports of subsets of CF, such as those who had organ transplants, that may experience a more severe COVID-19 course. Potential protective mechanisms in the CF population include pre-pandemic social isolation practices, infection prevention and control knowledge, altered expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme, and the use of certain medications. CONCLUSIONS: Although individuals with CF are at risk of acute exacerbations often precipitated by respiratory tract viral infections, published evidence to date indicated that individuals with CF do not experience higher risks of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is evidence that some subsets within the CF population, including those post-transplantation, may experience a more severe clinical course. As SARS-CoV-2 variants are identified and the pandemic goes through additional waves of disease outbreaks, ongoing monitoring of the risk of COVID-19 in individuals with CF is required.