Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Patients with MS: A Hospital-Based Registry

ABSTRACT

Background: Recent Covid-19 outbreak around the world turned into an international public health concern. Generally, people who receives immunosuppressive treatments or have an underlying disease are more likely to be infected. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients also may have higher risk of infection due to the taking immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs. Our objectives were to identify the epidemiological characteristics of Covid-19 in patients with MS for improve quality of care and achievement to better diagnosis and treatment in MS patients in Iran. Material(s) and Method(s) The present data were obtained from a hospital-based registry in Imam Khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran. Totally, 88 MS patients who was infected by Covid-19 were registered from May, 2020 to March 2021. Demographic and clinical data was collected (2). Result(s) 55 (65.5%) of participants were female by the mean age (SD) of 37.48 ± 10.05 years. Covid-19 diagnosis of 4 (4.5%) of patients was based on positive PCR test. The most MS treatment was receiving by patients was Rituximab (20 (22.7%)) following by Dimethyl Fumarate (14 (15.9%)), Fingolimod (10 (11.4%)), Glatiramer acetate (8 (9.1%)), Interferon β-1a (IM) (5 (5.7%)), Interferon β-1a (SQ) (5 (5.7%)), Interferon β-1b (3 (3.4%)), Triflunomide (2 (2.3%)) and Natalizumab (1 (1.1%)). The mean (SD) interval from the last Rituximab injection to Covid-19 infection was 3.80 ± 3.40 months. 37 (42.0%) MS patients continued to take their drugs after Covid-19 infection, while 10 (11.4%) of them stopped taking MS medicine and 7 (8.0%) of them was taking no treatment for controlling MS. 2 (2.3%) of participants was diagnosed by MS after Covid-19 infection. 9 (9.7%) subjects hospitalized due to Covid-19 infection. The mean (SD) duration of hospitalization was 5 ± 7.81 days. One (1.1%) death cases was reported. Conclusion(s) Our findings revealed valuable data of Covid-19 characteristics in patients with MS which could be useful for improving health services for MS patients during the Covid-19 pandemic (3-4).