ABSTRACT
Background: COVID19 due to SARS-CoV-2 infection implies an important anti-viral immune response leading to a major inflammatory syndrome with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (i.e. the cytokine storm paradigm). The impact of a preexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD) on the morbi-mortality of COVID-19 is unclear. An increased mortality rate has been identified in studies that included a limited number of patients with ILD from various etiologies. To date, no studies have investigated the severity of COVID-19 in patients with preexisting ILD in a large population of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD-ILD). Since March 18th, 2020, the French RMD COVID19 dataset (NCT04353609) includes patients with an RMD and SARS-Cov-2 infection. Objectives: To assess the impact of a preexisting ILD on COVID-19 morbi-mortality within the French RMD COVID-19 dataset. Methods: Patients from the French RMD COVID-19 dataset were included in the analysis. COVID-19 diagnosis was established by a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and/or typical symptoms or chest CT scans pattern during the period of the pandemic. Baseline phenotypic characteristics of the RMD including pre-existing ILD prior to the SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected. COVID-19 evolution was characterized as benign (ambulatory care), moderate (hospitalization outside intensive care unit [ICU]) and severe (hospitalization in ICU). Association between the ILD status and the severity and mortality rate of COVID-19 was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted on sex, age, body mass index and diabetes. Results: By June 26, 2020, 897 patients were included. Pre-existing ILD was reported in 27 patients (3%): 11 patients with systemic sclerosis, 8 with rheumatoid arthritis, 2 with auto-immune myositis, 2 with mixed connective tissue disease and 4 with other RMD. Among these 27 patients (11 male, mean age 63.1 ± 16.4 y/o, 56.5% having a usual interstitial pneumonia HRCT pattern), 22 had severe infection. Death related to COVID-19, was observed in 58 patients with RMD without ILD (7.1%) and in 10 patients with RMD-ILD (37%). Having a preexisting ILD was found to be independently associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 (adjusted OR=7.6 [2.9 -20.2], P<0.001) and an increased mortality rate (adjusted OR=12.3 [3.8 -39.2], P<0.001). Conclusion: In RMD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, preexisting ILD was associated with an increased risk to severe COVID-19 and related mortality. Our findings suggest that RMD-ILD patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination according to the high morbi-mortality rate during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ABSTRACT
Adjustment disorder with anxiety (ADA) is a common psychiatric pathology worldwide, but it is often undertreated. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, but very few studies have been carried out for the treatment of ADA. Internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) appears to be an effective treatment option, with the potential to reach a larger proportion of individuals suffering from ADA. Guidance is a beneficial feature of iCBT, provided in most studies by email or telephone (traditional guided iCBT). Blended CBT, which combines an online intervention and therapeutic guidance provided in person (face-to-face), could be a way to benefit from both the advantages of face-to-face CBT regarding human interactional quality and the advantages of internet-based CBT in terms of improved access to treatment. In this randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of two forms of administration of Seren@ctif, a 5-week CBT program for patients with ADA according the DSM-5, was examined: one delivered through face-to-face sessions (face-to-face CBT) and the other delivered online and guided with face-to-face contact with a nurse (blended CBT); these formats were compared with a wait-list control group (WLC). A total of 120 patients were included and randomized to one of these three conditions. Measures were administered before treatment, after treatment and 6 months after inclusion in the study. Both treatment conditions displayed significant decreases in anxiety, depression, worry and perceived stress at posttreatment when compared to the WLC group. The decrease in symptoms was mostly maintained 6 months after inclusion for the two experimental groups. Blended CBT showed significantly greater reductions in anxiety and depression than did face-to-face CBT on some secondary outcome measures. We conclude that both face-to-face CBT and blended CBT are effective treatments for patients with ADA, and we suggest that blended CBT may be slightly more effective than classical face-to-face CBT. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02621775;https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02621775(Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6tQrkPs1u).