The frequency of autoimmune diseases among patients with COVID-19 infection

ABSTRACT

Background There is a hypothesis saying that autoimmune diseases are protective against infections and tumors. The present study is trying to test this hypothesis in regards to COVID-19 infection. Objective This study aims to collect all patients with COVID-19 and to study the frequency of all autoimmune diseases among these patients and to be compared with their frequency in the general population. Methods This is case series descriptive observational study where all patients with COVID-19 infections had mild to moderate infections. They are all PCR positive and demographic features were registered. Also, patients were screened and examined for any cases of autoimmune diseases. Results A total of 125 patients with COVID-19 infection were evaluated with an age range from 16-85 years with a mean±SD of 41.68±15.12 years, with 67 (53.6%) females and 58 (46.4%) males. The frequency of the following autoimmune diseases (AD) was found and as follows Psoriasis in 17(13.6%) cases, vitiligo 10(8%), alopecia areata 6(4.8%), lupus erythematosus 4 (3.2%), pemphigus one (0.8%). When these figures for ADs compared with figures in the general population, they had statistically significantly no protection against COVID-19 infection but on contrary, they had increased risk to get the infection and in descending order psoriasis, alopecia areata, pemphigus, vitiligo, and lupus erythematosus. Conclusion The hypothesis of autoimmune diseases is protective against infections is not valid for patients with psoriasis, alopecia areata, pemphigus, vitiligo, and lupus erythematosus but on contrary, they had an increased risk to get COVID-19 infection.