Global disparities in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from an international online survey study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore current practice and interregional differences in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). We triangulated these observations considering countries' Gross National Income (GNI), disease subtypes, and symptoms using patient-reported information. METHODS: A cross-sectional ancillary analysis of the "COVID-19 vaccination in auto-immune disease" (COVAD) e-survey containing demographic characteristics, IIM subtypes (dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), inclusion-body myositis (IBM), anti-synthetase syndrome (ASSD), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), overlap myopathies (OM)), current symptoms (surrogate for organ involvement), and treatments (corticosteroids (CS), immunomodulators (IM), i.e., antimalarials, immunosuppressants (IS), intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), biological treatments, and targeted-synthetic small molecules). Treatments were presented descriptively according to continents, GNI, IIM, and organ involvement, and associated factors were analyzed using multivariable binary logistic regressions. RESULTS: Of 18,851 respondents from 94 countries, 1,418 with IIM were analyzed (age 61 years, 62.5% females). DM (32.4%), IBM (24.5%), and OM (15.8%) were the most common subtypes. Treatment categories included IS (49.4%), CS (38.5%), IM (13.8%), and IVIG (9.4%). Notably, treatments varied across regions, GNI categories (IS mostly used in higher-middle income, IM in lower-middle income, IVIG and biologics largely limited to high-income countries), IIM subtypes (IS and CS associated with ASSD, IM with OM and DM, IVIG with IMNM, and biological treatments with OM and ASSD) and disease manifestations (IS and CS with dyspnea). Most inter-regional treatment disparities persisted after multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: We identified marked regional treatment disparities in a global cohort of IIM. These observations highlight the need for international consensus-driven management guidelines considering patient-centered care and available resources.

High fatigue scores in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a multigroup comparative study from the COVAD e-survey.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) confer a significant risk of disability and poor quality of life, though fatigue, an important contributing factor, remains under-reported in these individuals. We aimed to compare and analyze differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores (0-10 cm) for fatigue (VAS-F) in patients with IIMs, non-IIM systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) international patient self-reported e-survey. The COVAD survey was circulated from December 2020 to August 2021, and details including demographics, COVID-19 history, vaccination details, SAID details, global health, and functional status were collected from adult patients having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Fatigue experienced 1 week prior to survey completion was assessed using a single-item 10 cm VAS. Determinants of fatigue were analyzed in regression models. Six thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight respondents (mean age 43.8 years, 72% female; 55% White) were included in the analysis. The overall VAS-F score was 3 (IQR 1-6). Patients with IIMs had similar fatigue scores (5, IQR 3-7) to non-IIM SAIDs [5 (IQR 2-7)], but higher compared to HCs (2, IQR 1-5; P < 0.001), regardless of disease activity. In adjusted analysis, higher VAS-F scores were seen in females (reference female; coefficient -0.17; 95%CI -0.21 to -13; P < 0.001) and Caucasians (reference Caucasians; coefficient -0.22; 95%CI -0.30 to -0.14; P < 0.001 for Asians and coefficient -0.08; 95%CI -0.13 to 0.30; P = 0.003 for Hispanics) in our cohort. Our study found that patients with IIMs exhibit considerable fatigue, similar to other SAIDs and higher than healthy individuals. Women and Caucasians experience greater fatigue scores, allowing identification of stratified groups for optimized multidisciplinary care and improve outcomes such as quality of life.

Pain in individuals with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, and without rheumatic diseases: A report from the COVAD study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare pain intensity among individuals with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), and without rheumatic disease (wAIDs). METHODS: Data were collected from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study, an international cross-sectional online survey, from December 2020 to August 2021. Pain experienced in the preceding week was assessed using numeral rating scale (NRS). We performed a negative binomial regression analysis to assess pain in IIMs subtypes and whether demographics, disease activity, general health status, and physical function had an impact on pain scores. RESULTS: Of 6988 participants included, 15.1% had IIMs, 27.9% had other AIRDs, and 57.0% were wAIDs. The median pain NRS in patients with IIMs, other AIRDs, and wAIDs were 2.0 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.0-5.0), 3.0 (IQR = 1.0-6.0), and 1.0 (IQR = 0-2.0), respectively (P < 0.001). Regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, and ethnicity revealed that overlap myositis and antisynthetase syndrome had the highest pain (NRS = 4.0, 95% CI = 3.5-4.5, and NRS = 3.6, 95% CI = 3.1-4.1, respectively). An additional association between pain and poor functional status was observed in all groups. Female gender was associated with higher pain scores in almost all scenarios. Increasing age was associated with higher pain NRS scores in some scenarios of disease activity, and Asian and Hispanic ethnicities had reduced pain scores in some functional status scenarios. CONCLUSION: Patients with IIMs reported higher pain levels than wAIDs, but less than patients with other AIRDs. Pain is a disabling manifestation of IIMs and is associated with a poor functional status.

Systemic sclerosis and COVID-19 vaccine safety: short-term insights from the global COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease (COVAD) survey.

The safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines is understudied in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We compared short-term adverse events (AEs) 7 days following vaccination in patients with SSc vs other rheumatic (AIRDs), non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). The COVID-19 Vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) self-reporting e-survey was circulated by a group of > 110 collaborators in 94 countries from March to December 2021. AEs were analyzed between different groups using regression models. Of 10,679 complete respondents [73.8% females, mean age 43 years, 53% Caucasians], 478 had SSc. 83% had completed two vaccine doses, Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) (51%) was the most common. Minor and major AEs were reported by 81.2% and 3.3% SSc patients, respectively, and did not differ significantly with disease activity or different vaccine types, though with minor symptom differences. Frequencies of AEs were not affected by background immunosuppression, though SSc patients receiving hydroxychloroquine experienced fatigue less commonly (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Frequency of AEs and hospitalisations were similar to other AIRDs, nrAIDs, and HC except a higher risk of chills (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0-1.7) and fatigue (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0-1.6) compared to other AIRDs. COVID-19 vaccines were largely safe and well tolerated in SSc patients in the short term. Background immunosuppression and disease activity did not influence the vaccination-related short-term AEs.

Impaired physical function in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from the multicentre COVAD patient-reported e-survey.

OBJECTIVES: The assessment of physical function is fundamental in the management of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). We aimed to investigate the physical function of patients with IIMs compared with those with non-IIM autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) utilizing Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) data obtained in the COVAD study, an international self-reported e-survey assessing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in AIRDs. METHODS: Demographics, AIRD diagnosis, disease activity, and PROMIS PF short form-10a data were extracted from the COVAD database. PROMIS PF-10a scores were compared between disease categories and stratified by disease activity. Factors affecting PROMIS PF-10a scores other than disease activity were identified by multivariable regression analysis in patients with inactive disease. RESULTS: 1057 IIM patients, 3635 non-IIM AIRD patients, and 3981 healthy controls (HCs) responded to the COVAD e-survey from April to August 2021. Using a binomial regression model, the predicted mean of PROMIS PF-10a scores was significantly lower in IIM patients compared with non-IIM AIRD patients or HCs (36.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.5-37.1] vs 41.3 [95%CI 40.2-42.5] vs 46.2 [95%CI 45.8-46.6], P < 0.001), irrespective of disease activity. The independent factors for lower PROMIS PF-10a scores in patients with inactive disease were older age, female, longer disease duration, and a diagnosis of inclusion body myositis or polymyositis. CONCLUSION: Physical function is significantly impaired in IIMs compared with non-IIM AIRDs or HCs, even in patients with inactive disease. Our study highlights a critical need for better strategies to minimize functional disability in patients with IIMs.

COVID-19 vaccination-related adverse events among autoimmune disease patients: results from the COVAD study.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe in the healthy population. However, gaps remain in the evidence of their safety in patients with systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs). COVID-19 vaccination related adverse events (ADEs) in patients with SAIDs and healthy controls (HC) seven days post-vaccination were assessed in the COVAD study, a patient self-reported cross-sectional survey. METHODS: The survey was circulated in early 2021 by > 110 collaborators (94 countries) to collect SAID details, COVID-19 vaccination details, and 7-day vaccine ADEs, irrespective of respondent vaccination status. Analysis was performed based on data distribution and variable type. RESULTS: 10900 respondents [42 (30-55) years, 74% females and 45% Caucasians] were analyzed. 5,867 patients (54%) with SAIDs were compared with 5033 HCs.79% had minor and only 3% had major vaccine ADEs requiring urgent medical attention (but not hospital admission) overall. Headache [SAIDs=26%, HCs=24%; OR = 1.1 (1.03-1.3); p = 0.014], abdominal pain [SAIDs=2.6%, HCs=1.4%; OR = 1.5 (1.1-2.3); p = 0.011], and dizziness [SAIDs=6%, HCs=4%; OR = 1.3 (1.07-1.6); p = 0.011], were slightly more frequent in SAIDs. Overall, major ADEs [SAIDs=4%, HCs=2%; OR = 1.9 (1.6-2.2); p < 0.001] and, specifically, throat closure [SAIDs=0.5%, HCs=0.3%; OR = 5.7 (2.9-11); p = 0.010] were more frequent in SAIDs though absolute risk was small (0-4%). Major ADEs and hospitalizations (less than 2%) were comparable across vaccine types in SAIDs. CONCLUSION: Vaccination against COVID-19 is relatively safe in SAID patients. SAIDs were at a higher risk of major ADEs than HCs, though absolute risk was small. There are small differences in minor ADEs between vaccine types in SAID patients.

COVID-19 severity and vaccine breakthrough infections in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and healthy controls: a multicenter cross-sectional study from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) survey.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the spectrum and severity of COVID-19 and vaccine breakthrough infections (BIs) among patients with IIMs, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with data from the COVAD study, a self-reported online global survey that collected demographics, COVID-19 history, and vaccination details from April to September 2021. Adult patients with at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose were included. BIs were defined as infections occurring > 2 weeks after any dose of vaccine. Characteristics associated with BI were analyzed with a multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 10,900 respondents [42 (30-55) years, 74%-females, 45%-Caucasians] HCs were (47%), SAIDs (42%) and IIMs (11%). Patients with IIMs reported fewer COVID-19 cases before vaccination (6.2%-IIM vs 10.5%-SAIDs vs 14.6%-HC; OR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.8, and OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.5, respectively). BIs were uncommon (1.4%-IIM; 1.9%-SAIDs; 3.2%-HC) and occurred in 17 IIM patients, 13 of whom were on immunosuppressants, and 3(18%) required hospitalization. All-cause hospitalization was higher in patients with IIM compared to HCs [23 (30%) vs 59 (8%), OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.1 before vaccination, and 3 (18%) vs 9 (5%), OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.3 in BI]. In a multivariate regression analysis, age 30-60 years was associated with a lower odds of BI (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.0), while the use of immunosuppressants had a higher odds of BI (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IIMs reported fewer COVID-19 cases than HCs and other SAIDs, but had higher odds of all-cause hospitalization from COVID-19 than HCs. BIs were associated with the use of immunosuppressants and were uncommon in IIMs.

Google searches for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: Whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has an impact on bruxism represents an important gap of knowledge. This study evaluated the trends in Google searches, as an indication of public interest and demand, for bruxism and its symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Google Trends was queried for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching both worldwide and in the United States. Two periods in 2020 (March 15-May 9 and May 10-October 17) were compared to similar periods of 2016-2019 to investigate both initial and short-term interest. RESULTS: The relative search volume of bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching was not significantly different between 2020 and 2016-2019 worldwide or in the United States in the March 15-May 9 period. Only the search for teeth grinding showed an increase worldwide. In the May 10-October 17 period, the relative search volume of bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching all was significantly higher in 2020 compared to 2016-2019 both worldwide and in the United States. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the relative search volume for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching, as an indication of public interest and demand, was increased both worldwide and in the United States during the May-October 2020 period compared to similar periods of the previous 4 years. Dentists should address this increased public interest and demand for information seeking for bruxism. Follow-up studies monitoring long-term interest as a real-time surveillance and evaluating whether increased internet searches are linked to an actual increase or worsening of bruxism and its symptoms in the clinic are required.

COVAD survey 2 long-term outcomes: unmet need and protocol.

Vaccine hesitancy is considered a major barrier to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19. While multiple alternative and synergistic approaches including heterologous vaccination, booster doses, and antiviral drugs have been developed, equitable vaccine uptake remains the foremost strategy to manage pandemic. Although none of the currently approved vaccines are live-attenuated, several reports of disease flares, waning protection, and acute-onset syndromes have emerged as short-term adverse events after vaccination. Hence, scientific literature falls short when discussing potential long-term effects in vulnerable cohorts. The COVAD-2 survey follows on from the baseline COVAD-1 survey with the aim to collect patient-reported data on the long-term safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccines in immune modulation. The e-survey has been extensively pilot-tested and validated with translations into multiple languages. Anticipated results will help improve vaccination efforts and reduce the imminent risks of COVID-19 infection, especially in understudied vulnerable groups.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study: Vaccine safety in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: In this study we investigated COVID-19 vaccination-related adverse events (ADEs) 7 days postvaccination in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) and other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs). METHODS: Seven-day vaccine ADEs were collected in an international patient self-reported e-survey. Descriptive statistics were obtained and multivariable regression was performed. RESULTS: Ten thousand nine hundred respondents were analyzed (1227 IIM cases, 4640 SAID cases, and 5033 healthy controls [HCs]; median age, 42 [interquartile range, 30-455] years; 74% female; 45% Caucasian; 69% completely vaccinated). Major ADEs were reported by 76.3% of the IIM patients and 4.6% reported major ADEs. Patients with active IIMs reported more frequent major (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; interquartile range [IQR], 1.04-7.3) and minor (OR, 1.5; IQR, 1.1-2.2) ADEs than patients with inactive IIMs. Rashes were more frequent in IIMs (OR, 2.3; IQR, 1.2-4.2) than HCs. ADEs were not impacted by steroid dose, although hydroxychloroquine and intravenous/subcutaneous immunoglobulins were associated with a higher risk of minor ADEs (OR, 1.9; IQR, 1.1-3.3; and OR, 2.2; IQR, 1.1-4.3, respectively). Overall, ADEs were less frequent in inclusion-body myositis (IBM) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer) vaccine recipients. DISCUSSION: Seven-day postvaccination ADEs were comparable in patients with IIMs, SAIDs, and HCs, except for a higher risk of rash in IIMs. Patients with dermatomyositis with active disease may be at higher risk, and IBM patients may be at lower risk of specific ADEs. Overall, the benefit of preventing severe COVID-19 through vaccination likely outweighs the risk of vaccine-related ADEs. Our results may inform future guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccination in patients with SAIDs, specifically in those with IIMs. Studies to evaluate long-term outcomes and disease flares are needed to shed more light on developing future COVID-19 vaccination guidelines.

COVID-19 outcomes in patients with Dermatomyositis: A registry-based cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) like DM are known to be vulnerable towards various types of infections due to aggressive disease activity mandating high dose immunosuppressive therapy. The severity of COVID-19 in RDs is limited in literature due to the heterogeneous nature of the condition. Therefore, specific details on mortality is essential to navigate any precautions required in the treatment. OBJECTIVES: To determine outcomes of COVID-19 in DM as compared to controls, and identify the risk association of gender, race, interstitial lung disease, neoplasms, and use of immunosuppressant. METHODS: Retrospective data of individuals with DM and COVID-19 and the general population with COVID-19 between January 2020 to August 2021 was retrieved from the TriNetX database. 1:1 Propensity Score matching was used to adjust for confounders. We assessed COVID-19 outcomes such as mortality, hospitalisation, ICU admission, severe COVID-19, mechanical ventilation (MV), acute kidney injury (AKI), venous thromboembolism (VTE), ischemic stroke, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), renal replacement therapy (RRT) and sepsis. Subgroup analyses included gender, race, ILD, cancer patients, disease-modifying rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) use, and glucocorticoids (GC) use. RESULTS: We identified 5,574 DM patients with COVID-19, and 5,574 general population with COVID-19 (controls). DM with COVID-19 had a lower risk of mortality in comparison to controls [RR 0.76], hospitalisation [RR 0.8], severe COVID-19 [RR 0.76], AKI [RR 0.83], and sepsis [RR 0.73]. Males and African Americans were more likely to develop AKI [RR 1.35, 1.65], while African Americans had higher odds for severe COVID-19 [RR 1.62] and VTE [RR 1.54]. DM with ILD group also experienced higher odds for severe COVID-19 infection [RR 1.64], and VTE [RR 2.06]. DM patients receiving DMARDs and glucocorticoids had higher odds for hospitalisation [RR 1.46, 2.12], and sepsis [RR 3.25, 2.4] Subgroup analysis of 5-year neoplasm history amongst DM patients with COVID-19 was inadequate for meaningful comparison. CONCLUSION: Dermatomyositis patients without comorbities have reasonable COVID-19 outcomes including mortality and hospitalisation. Black race, male gender, ILD, DMARDS and glucocorticoid users, are associated with poor outcomes.

Axial spondyloarthritis may protect against poor outcomes in COVID-19: propensity score matched analysis of 9766 patients from a nationwide multi-centric research network.

INTRODUCTION: The outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) have not been explored in detail. Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are commonly used for ax-SpA patients, and how they influence outcomes may have implications on COVID-19 management. METHODS: A nationwide multi-centric research network was queried for patients with ax-SpA, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic SpA (nr-SpA) who had developed COVID-19. An equal number of propensity score(PS) matched controls were extracted from the database amongst patients with COVID-19 who did not have any inflammatory arthritis. Outcomes included mortality and others including hospitalization, intensive care unit, ventilation, acute kidney injury (AKI), renal replacement therapy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral infarction, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and sepsis. RESULTS: We identified 9766 patients with ax-SpA (924 AS and 8842 nr-SpA) and 691,862 without SpA who had COVID-19. In the unmatched comparison, patients with ax-SpA had higher risk ratios (RR) for all outcomes. After matching for demographics and comorbidities, patients with ax-SpA had lower RR for mortality [RR: 0.707 (95% CI: 0.598-0.836), p < 0.0001], severe COVID-19 [RR: 0.791 (0.69-0.906), p = 0.0007], hospitalization [RR: 0.872 (0.826-0.921), p < 0.0001], and AKI [RR: 0.902 (0.816-0.997), p = 0.044]. Only the risk of VTE was higher in ax-SpA patients [RR: 1.219 (1.037-1.433), p = 0.016]. Amongst the ax-SpA group, males had worse outcomes in 9 out of the 11 domains except for VTE and cerebral infarction, while blacks had worse outcomes in all except for mortality and the need for renal replacement therapy. AS had similar risk ratios for all outcomes compared with nr-SpA except hospitalization [RR: 1.457 (1.03-2.06), p = 0.0318]. There was no difference in outcomes in patients who had received TNFi in the year previous to COVID-19 infection. Ax-SpA patients who had been prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the 3 months prior to COVID-19 had poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, COVID-19 outcomes were better in patients with ax-SpA as compared with PS matched controls except for increased risk for VTE. The use of TNFi is not associated with better or worse outcomes. These apparently protective effects observed need to be validated and explored further. Key Points • Patients with axial spondyloarthritis have lower mortality and morbidity during COVID-19 infections as compared with propensity score matched controls. • Axial spondyloarthritis is associated with higher risks for venous thromboembolism during COVID-19. • There is no difference in outcomes between ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic spondyloarthritis except in rates of hospitalization, which were higher in ankylosing spondylitis. • Use of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors did not influence COVID-19 outcomes.

COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease (COVAD) survey protocol.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a cause of unprecedented global morbidity and mortality. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination has emerged as the only tangible solution to reducing poor clinical outcomes, vaccine hesitancy continues to be an obstacle to achieving high levels of vaccine uptake. This represents particular risk to patients with autoimmune diseases, a group already at increased risk of hospitalization and poor clinical outcomes related to COVID-19 infection. Whilst there is a paucity of long-term safety and efficacy data of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune diseases, the current evidence strongly suggests that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of adverse effects and disease flares. Herein, we report the protocol of the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study, an ongoing international collaborative study involving 29 countries and over 110 investigators.

Long COVID: rheumatologic/musculoskeletal symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors at 3 and 6 months.

OBJECTIVE: To document the detailed characteristics including severity, type, and locations of rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms along with other COVID-19 persistent symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors at 3 and 6 months. METHODS: In this extension cohort study, two telephone surveys at 3 and 6 months following the hospitalization were carried out. In these telephone surveys, participants were asked regarding their symptoms through a previously designed standard questionnaire. RESULTS: At 3 months, 89.0% of survivors had at least one symptom, 74.6% had at least one rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptom, and 82.1% had at least one other COVID-19 symptom. At 6 months, 59.6% of survivors had at least one symptom, 43.2% had at least one rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptom, and 51.2% had at least one other COVID-19 symptom. Regarding the rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms, 31.6% had fatigue, 18.6% had joint pain, and 15.1% had myalgia; and regarding the other-COVID-19-symptoms, 25.3% had dyspnea, 20.0% had hair loss, and 17.2% sweat at 6 months. In an adjusted model, female patients were more likely to have fatigue (OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.18-3.34), myalgia (3.00, 1.51-5.98), and joint pain (3.39, 1.78-6.50) at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Approximately 3 in 5 patients had at least one symptom with ≈2 in 5 patients had at least one rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptom. Fatigue, joint pain, and myalgia were the most frequent rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms. Joint pain and myalgia were mostly widespread. This information guide rheumatologists to understand the nature and features of persistent rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors and may contribute to better management of these individuals. Key Points • Approximately 3 in 5 patients had at least one symptom with ≈2 in 5 patients had at least one rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptom at 6 months • Fatigue, joint pain, and myalgia were the most frequent rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms followed by back pain, low back pain, and neck pain • Dyspnea, hair loss, and sweat were the most frequent other-COVID-19-symptoms.

Short term outcomes of COVID-19 in lupus: Propensity score matched analysis from a nationwide multi-centric research network.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the severity and outcome of COVID-19 among individuals with lupus as compared to controls. The secondary objective was to identify the risk association of sex, race, presence of nephritis, and use of various immunomodulators with COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective data of individuals with lupus with and without COVID-19 between January 2020 to May 2021 was retrieved from the TriNetX. A one-to-one matched COVID-19 positive control was selected using propensity score(PS) matching. We assessed several outcomes, including all-cause mortality, hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, severe COVID, acute kidney injury (AKI), Haemodialysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE) and sepsis were assessed. RESULTS: We identified 2140 SLE patients with COVID-19, 29,853 SLE without COVID-19 and 732,291controls. Mortality within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis was comparable among SLE and controls [RR-1.26; 95%CI-0.85,1.8]. SLE with COVID-19 had a higher risk of hospitalisation [RR-1.28; 95% CI 1.14-1.44], ICU admission [RR-1.35; 95% CI 1.01-1.83], mechanical ventilation [RR- 1.58 95% CI 1.07-2.33], stroke [RR-2.18; 95% CI 1.32,3.60], VTE [RR-2.22; 95% CI 1.57-03.12] and sepsis [RR-1.37; 95% CI 1.06-1.78].Individuals with SLE who contracted COVID-19 had higher mortality, hospitalisation, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, AKI, VTE and sepsis (p < 0.001) compared to SLE without COVID-19. Males with SLE had a higher risk of AKI [RR-2.05; 95% CI 1.27-3.31] than females. Lupus nephritis was associated with higher risk of hospitalisation [RR-1.36; 95% CI 1.05-1.76], AKI [RR-2.32; 95% CI 1.50-3.59] and sepsis [RR-2.07; 95% CI-1.12-3.83]. CONCLUSION: The mortality of individuals with SLE due to COVID-19 is comparable to the general population but with higher risks of hospitalisation, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, stroke, VTE and sepsis. The presence of nephritis increases the risk of AKI, thus probably increasing hospitalisation and sepsis.

Impact of COVID-19 on interest in hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases.

An important gap of knowledge exists regarding the public interest in hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to understand the public interest in HPB diseases in the COVID-19 era. In this infodemiology study, we performed a comparative analysis of Google search volume of HPB terms in 2020-2021 and compared it to a similar time frame (2016-2019) in 3 periods to assess how trends in patient seeking behavior of HPB terms changed during the course of the pandemic in the USA and worldwide. Our analysis showed a substantial decrease in search volume of HPB diseases and procedure terms early in the pandemic. However, search volumes appeared to revert back to pre-pandemic years closer to the 1-year mark in USA and worldwide. Patients may have initially neglected HPB-related issues during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could lead to worse outcomes. While HPB-related terms reverted closer to pre-pandemic levels later in the pandemic, further research is needed to assess the long-term impacts.

Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A multicenter research network study in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate outcomes of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as compared to the general population. Additionally, outcomes were explored among RA patients stratified by sex, race, and medications use through sub-cohort analyses. METHODS: This comparative cohort study used a US multicenter research network (TriNetX) to extract data on all adult RA patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, and adults without RA who were diagnosed with COVID-19 (comparative cohort) anytime from January 20, 2020 to April 11, 2021. COVID-19 outcomes were assessed within 30 days after its diagnosis. Baseline characteristics that included demographics and comorbidities were controlled in propensity score matching. RESULTS: A total of 9730 RA patients with COVID-19 and 656,979 non-RA with COVID-19 were identified. Before matching, the risk of all outcomes including mortality (RR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.90 to 2.34), hospitalization (RR: 1.60, 1.55 to 1.66), intensive care unit-ICU admission (RR: 1.86, 1.71 to 2.05), mechanical ventilation (RR: 1.62, 1.44 to 1.82), severe COVID-19 (RR: 1.89, 1.74 to 2.06), acute kidney injury (RR: 2.13, 1.99 to 2.29), kidney replacement therapy/hemodialysis (RR: 1.40, 1.03 to 1.89), acute respiratory distress syndrome-ARDS (RR: 1.76, 1.53 to 2.02), ischemic stroke (RR: 2.62, 2.24 to 3.07), venous thromboembolism-VTE (RR: 2.30, 2.07 to 2.56), and sepsis (RR: 1.97, 1.81 to 2.13) was higher in RA compared to non-RA. After matching, the risks did not differ in both cohorts except for VTE (RR: 1.18, 1.01 to 1.38) and sepsis (RR: 1.27, 1.12 to 1.43), which were higher in the RA cohort. Male sex, black race, and glucocorticoid use increased the risk of adverse outcomes. The risk of hospitalization was higher in rituximab or interleukin 6 inhibitors (IL-6i) users compared to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) users, with no significant difference between Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) or abatacept users and TNFi users. CONCLUSION: This large cohort study of RA-COVID-19 found that the risk of all outcomes was higher in the RA compared to the non-RA cohort before matching, with no difference in the majority of outcomes after matching, implying the risk being attributed to adjusted factors. However, the risk of VTE and sepsis was higher in RA cohort even after matching, indicating RA as an independent risk factor. Male sex, black race, and glucocorticoid use were associated with adverse outcomes in RA with COVID-19. Rituximab or IL-6i users were associated with an increased risk of hospitalization compared to TNFi users.