ABSTRACT
Background: There is limited data regarding the risk of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19 in Ireland. Objectives: We used the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registry data to study outcomes and their predictors. Methods: We examined data on patients and their disease-related characteristics entered into the COVID-19 GRA provider registry from Ireland (24th March 2020 to 31st August 2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic and clinical characteristics with hospitalisation. Results: Of 105 patients, 47 (45.6%) were hospitalised and 10 (9.5%) died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed age (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.10), number of comorbidities (OR=1.93, 95%CI 1.11 to 3.35), and glucocorticoid use (OR=15.01, 95%CI 1.77 to 127.16) were significantly associated with hospitalisation. A diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with a lower odds of hospitalisation (OR=0.09, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.32). Conclusion: Increasing age, comorbidity burden, and glucocorticoid use were associated with hospitalisation, while a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with lower odds of hospitalization.