Do multiple sclerosis drugs decrease the risk of a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis drugs (DMTs) were expected to increase the incidence and risk of severe infection for SARSCoV- 2 and to decrease the response to the vaccine, but has it been the case? Objectives: 1) To evaluate the relationship between the use of DMTs and the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 2) To evaluate the relationship between the use of DMTs and the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination. Aim(s) To demonstrate that treatment with DMTs does not increase the incidence and risk of severe illness or the response to vaccination due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Method(s) Retrospective cohort study of 472 adults with MS in a MS Unit between March, 2020 and March, 2022. All DMTs were prescribed prior to COVID-19 testing. Variables Demographics data, DMTs, SARS-CoV-2 test results, severity of the infection (hospitalized and death), infection after vaccination. Result(s) Among 472 patients with MS, 120 patients (25.4%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection (Incidence in the general population of Catalonia 22.7%);83 (26%) were women;mean age 49 years (44.5 yrs for infected;50.6 yrs for not infected);there was no significant difference in the incidence of infection between 66 (29.3%) of the 213 treated and 52 (21.8 %) of the 259 untreated patients (p=0,059). There was also no significant difference in hospitalization between the 4 treated (5.9 %) and 3 untreated (2.5 %) patients. None of them died. There wasn't a significant difference between post-vaccination incidence of infection between the 26 treated (41.3%) and 16 untreated (36.4%) patients either. Conclusion(s) The use of DMTs was not associated with an increase in incidence or severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a favorable vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 response was observed. Further research is needed to determine the possible protective role of MS drugs on risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 and the mechanisms that underlie these findings.