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BackgroundCOVID-19 comes with a significant medical risk for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, with an increased risk of infection and severe outcomes[1]. The vulnerability of rheumatologic patients might also affect their quality of life[2], for example by keeping up protective measures (masking, restriction of social contacts, etc.) while the general Swiss public no longer does so.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to better understand the health-related burden of COVID-19 among patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and to investigate factors contributing to a different perception of the burden of COVID-19.MethodsWe included all patients registered in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management (SCQM) registry with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondylarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), undifferentiated arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis who answered the questionnaire in the mobile My-SCQM app between the 4.11 and 11.12.2022. The questionnaire contained questions about the extent to which the pandemic is affecting patients' personal and social lives. We performed descriptive analysis on the whole population and also in subgroups according to 5 treatment groups, assigned in the following order: rituximab > JAK-inhibitors > other b/tsDMARDs > csDMARDs > none of these treatments. This means that someone taking e.g., both a JAKi and a csDMARD will be assigned to the JAKi category.ResultsThe questionnaire was answered by 1357 individuals with a median age of 57 years. 63% of participants were female. 33% are living in a household with children. 36% were diagnosed with RA, 34% with axSpA, 22% with PsA and 8% with another inflammatory rheumatic disease. A total of 100 patients were prescribed csDMARDs, 94 JAKi, 18 rituximab, 695 other b/tsDMARDs, and 450 patients received none of these treatments (Table 1). 10% of patients feel their general lives are affected by COVID-19 at a level of more than 7 out of a 10 scale. 3% of the participants report that COVID-19 impacts their social environment (family and friends) as a potentially dangerous disease at a level of more than 7 out of 10 scale. After being vaccinated against COVID-19, 33% of patients report no fear of the disease, however, 27% of participants still state that their anxiety against the virus remained unchanged. There is a trend towards persistence of fear in those taking rituximab (35%) compared to the participants in other groups (26% and 20% respectively in csDMARDs and JAKi takers). More than half of the population still wear masks, and rituximab users are the most likely to wear them (72% of these individuals still do), followed by individuals on JAKi (65%) (Figure 1).ConclusionOur study revealed that after around two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases in Switzerland is generally low, although it appears higher in patients with JAKi and rituximab, and that for a minority the quality-of-life still remains impacted.References[1]Conway, R., et al., SARS–CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19-19 Outcomes in Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. 2022. 74(5): p. 766-775.[2]Goldman, J.D., et al., COVID-19-19 in immunocompromised populations: implications for prognosis and repurposing of immunotherapies. 2021. 9(6).Table 1.Basic characteristics of study population.VariableLevelOverallRituximabJAKiOther b/tsDMARDscsDMARDsNone of the aboveUnclearn13571894695100161289Gender (%)Men508 (37.4)3 (16.7)19 (20.2)291 (41.9)39 (39)63 (39)93 (32)Age (median)57595956595558Diagnosis Group (%)RA498 (36.7)18 (100)67 (71.3)188 (27)69 (69)33 (20.5)123 (42.6)axSpA462 (34)011 (11.7)270 (38.8)10 (10)87 (54)84 (29)PsA296 (21.8)011 (11.7)187 (26.9)15 (15)19 (11.8)64 (22)RZA/PMR13 (1)003 (0.4)07 (4.3)3 (1)UA88 (6.5)05 (5.3)47 (6.8)6 (6)15 (9.3)15 (5.2)Figure 1.Participants' description of their current situation concerning COVID-19 (YES/NO option per criteria): a. overall b. by treatment group.[Figure omitted. See PDF]Acknowledgements:NIL.Di closure of InterestsChristoph Blapp: None declared, Shekoofeh Yaghmaei Employee of: AstraZeneca, Adrian Ciurea: None declared, Almut Scherer: None declared, Marco Kuster Employee of: AstraZeneca, Kim Lauper Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Viatris and Galapagos, Consultant of: Pfizer, Grant/research support from: Eli-Lilly.
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Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) have an increased risk for a worse COVID-19 outcome, and impaired immune responses following mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been observed. In this prospective observational study, we compared the anti-S1 response following vaccination with BNT162b2 and mRNA- 1273 in a large cohort of IRD patients and assessed the effect of different immunomodulatory treatments. Patients from SCQM, the Swiss IRD cohort, who assented to an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were recruited into the study between 3/2021-9/2021. Participants answered the study questionnaire via the mySCQM patient app and provided self-collected capillary blood samples at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks post second vaccine dose. Samples were tested for IgG antibodies against the S1 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using the EUROIMMUN ELISA. We examined differences in antibody titres depending on the vaccine and treatment received, while adjusting for age and history of SARSCoV- 2 infection, by applying mixed effects continuous outcome logistic regression models at each timepoint. Eligible samples were obtained from 564 IRD patients (mean age 53 y (s.d. 12 y), 66% female) with 36% RA, 37%, axSpA, 21% PsA, and 6% UA (undifferentiated arthritis), on no medication (no DMARD & no steroids 15%), csDMARD (9%), TNFi (48%), IL-6/17/23i (14%), JAKi (6%), rituximab (4%), abatacept (3%), and PDE4i (1%) in mono/combination therapy at baseline. 10% of patients had a past SARS-CoV-2 infection, 54% received BNT162b2, 46% mRNA-1273. Independently of the disease, treatment, and history of SARS-CoV- 2 infection, the odds of having higher anti-S1 titres at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post second vaccine dose were, respectively, 3.3, 3.9, and 3.8 times higher with mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 for the average-aged patient of this population (p <0.0001). Moreover, with every year of age, the odds of higher anti-S1 levels increased by 3% to 5% following mRNA-1273 vs BNT162b2 vaccination (p <0.05), indicating an additional benefit for elderly IRD patients. Among monotherapies, rituximab, abatacept, JAKi, and TNFi had the highest odds of reduced anti-S1 responses compared to no medication. Patients on specific combination therapies showed significantly reduced antibody responses compared to respective monotherapies. Our results suggest that in IRD patients, vaccination with mRNA- 1273 vs BNT162b2 results in higher anti-S1 antibody titres, and has an additional benefit in elderly patients.
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Background: Patients on immunomodulatory treatments mount an attenuated immune response following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, yet longterm studies of vaccine-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody (Ab) kinetics are missing. Objectives: In this prospective observational study, we mapped the humoral antibody response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines up to 24 weeks post full vaccination in patients with infammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs). We aimed to assess differences due to treatment, age, past SARS-CoV-2 infection, and vaccine (BNT162b2 vs. mRNA-1273). Methods: Adult patients from the SCQM cohort who assented to an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were recruited between 3/21-9/21. Participants answered questionnaires via an app and received kits for the self-collection of capillary blood samples at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks post full vaccination. Samples were tested for IgG Ab against the S1 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S1-IgG) using the EUROIMMUN ELISA. To examine differences in Ab titres arising from the defned parameters, while accounting for inter-assay variability, mixed effects continuous outcome logistic regression models were applied at each timepoint. Results: Samples were obtained from 570 patients: 67% female, mean age 53 y (SD 12 y) with 37% RA, 36% axSpA, 21% PsA, and 6% UA (undifferentiated arthritis), on no medication (no DMARDs & no glucocorticoids;15%), csD-MARDs (10%), TNFi (48%), IL-1/6/17/23i (14%), JAKi (6%), rituximab (RTX;4%), or abatacept (ABA;2%) in mono/combination therapy at the frst vaccination. 10% of patients had a past SARS-CoV-2 infection, 54% received BNT162b2, 46% mRNA-1273. For any Ab threshold, the odds of having a higher Ab titre at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post full vaccination were 3.3-4 times higher with mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 (Table 1, Figure 1). TNFi, JAKi, RTX, and ABA as monotherapy resulted in signifcantly lower Ab levels compared to no medication at almost all timepoints. In combination therapy, TNFi, IL-1/6/17/23i, RTX, and csDMARDs led to consistently lower Ab titres at all timepoints compared to respective monotherapy. Conclusion: Compared to no medication, some immunomodulatory therapies resulted in markedly lower Ab levels at all timepoints. In IRD patients, a past SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in strikingly increased immunogenicity, as did mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2.
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Objectives: Assess and compare the rate of COVID-19 infection and SARS-CoV2 testing in patients with RA, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) association with their treatment and, for testing, the number of symptoms in a Swiss cohort of patients. Methods: Inclusion of patients with RA, AxSpA and PsA from the SCQM using a smartphone app (mySCQM) to record information between March and December 2020. Outcomes of interest were self-reported SARS-CoV2 testing, symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during the previous month and confirmed COVID-19 through PCR nasopharyngeal swab. Outcomes were compared between diseases groups, using logistic regression. We also evaluated the association of baseline treatment (TNF-inhibitors, b/tsDMARDs with other modes of action, no b/tsDMARDs) on the odds of symptoms and testing and the association of the number of symptoms (0-9) on the odds of testing. The analyses of SARS-CoV2 testing and COVID-19 symptoms were additionally adjusted for age, gender, glucocorticoids and csDMARDs. Confirmed cases were not adjusted for treatment and other covariates considering the low number of events. Results: We included 927 patients with RA, 805 with AxSpa and 453 with PsA. 1010 patients reported COVID-19-like symptoms (mostly fever, runny nose and cough), but only 455 of them (45%) reported being tested. 151 patients were tested without symptoms. In between March and December 2020, 7.6% of RA, 8.5% of AxSpA and 10.5% of PsA patients were tested positive for COVID-19 (p = 0.678). The odds of testing, symptoms and confirmed COVID-19 were similar between diseases and not associated with treatment for testing and. The number of symptoms was associated with the odds of testing (OR 1.43, 95%CI 1.37- 1.50 by symptom). Conclusion: Prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms and confirmed cases was similar between diseases, and for symptoms, was not associated with treatment. Despite strong advice from health authorities, less than 50% of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and COVID-19 symptoms were tested. This proportion was not significantly different between diseases and not influenced by type of treatment. Efforts should be made to improve rates of SARS-CoV2 testing in patients with rheumatic diseases.
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Background: Since the beginning of the pandemic in Switzerland, immunosuppressed people were strongly advised to be tested for SARS-CoV2 when symptomatic as it was conjectured that they might be more at risk for infection and/ or severe disease. While patients with autoimmune diseases might be indeed more at risk of death from COVID-191, it remains unknown, whether there are differences in infection or complication rates between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), and whether this relates to their disease or their treatment. Additionally, the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 testing in this population is not known. Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the rate of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV2 testing in patients with RA, AxSpA and PsA, the potential association with their treatment and, for testing, the number of symptoms. Methods: We included patients with RA, AxSpA and PsA from the Swiss Clinical Quality Management register (SCQM) using a smartphone app (mySCQM) to record information between March and December 2020. The outcomes of interest were self-reported SARS-CoV2 testing, symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during the previous month and confirmed COVID-19 through PCR nasopharyngeal swab. Outcomes were evaluated over the complete length of the aforementioned period (i.e. the outcome has been reported at least once during the period). Outcomes were compared between diseases groups, using logistic regression. We also evaluated the association of baseline treatment (TNF-inhibitors, b/tsDMARDs with other modes of action (OMA), no b/tsDMARDs) on the odds of symptoms and testing and the association of the number of symptoms (0-9) on the odds of testing. The analyses of SARS-CoV2 testing and COVID-19 symptoms were additionally adjusted for age, gender, glucocorticoids and csDMARDs. Confirmed cases were not adjusted for treatment and other covariates considering the low number of events. Results: We included 927 patients with RA, 805 with AxSpa and 453 with PsA (Table 1). 1010 patients reported COVID-19-like symptoms (mostly fever, runny nose and cough), but only 455 of them (45%) reported being tested. 151 patients were tested without symptoms. In between March and December 2020, 7.6% of RA, 8.5% of AxSpA and 10.5% of PsA patients were tested positive for COVID-19 (p=0.678). The odds of testing, symptoms and confirmed COVID-19 were similar between diseases and not associated with treatment for testing and symptoms (Figure 1). The number of symptoms was associated with the odds of testing (OR 1.43, 95%CI 1.37-1.50 by symptom). Conclusion: Prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms and confirmed cases was similar between diseases, and for symptoms, was not associated with treatment. Despite strong advice from health authorities, less than 50% of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and COVID-19 symptoms were tested. This proportion was not significantly different between diseases and not influenced by type of treatment. Efforts should be made to improve rates of SARS-CoV2 testing in patients with rheumatic diseases.