STUDY OF ADVERSE REACTIONS TO COVID-19 VACCINATION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES

ABSTRACT

BackgroundVaccination has been recommended in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some patients are not vaccinated due to concerns about adverse reactions.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to investigate the adverse reactions in rheumatic diseases and to guide the decision-making of patients and physicians.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to patients with rheumatic diseases, and patients who could be counted as of September 2021, when they consented to this study, were surveyed.ResultsThe subjects were 123 (malefemale=10113), 84 with rheumatoid arthritis and 39 with other immune diseases. The therapeutic agents used were PSL 31(25.2%), MTX 65(52.8%), NSAID/COX inhibitors 28(22.8%), bDMARDs 42(34.1%). adverse reactions after the first and second vaccination were fever 17(13.8%)/50(40.7%), joint symptoms 7(5.7%)/22(17.9%), local injection reactions (pain/irritation) 22(17.9%), local injection reactions (pain/erythema) 93(75.6)/98(79.7), systemic skin symptoms 0(0%)/2(1.6%), other symptoms (malaise, myalgia, etc.) 59(48.0%)/85(69.1%), and treatment intensification 5(4.1%)/12(9.7%). These responses differed in occurrence only for fever with and without PSL medication (22.5% 47.3% (p=0.02)).The odds ratio for disease worsening after the first dose of vaccine and again after the second dose was 33.5 (p<0.01).ConclusionNo specific adverse reactions other than the commonly known ones were observed, but some patients experienced worsening of symptoms after vaccination, requiring intensified treatment. Based on the results of this study, we believe that adverse reactions to vaccination are acceptable. We plan to accumulate more cases and analyze them in the future.The exacerbation of disease after the first vaccination would predict the exacerbation after the second vaccination.REFERENCESNIL.AcknowledgementsNIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.