Assessment of the need for hospitalization and the frequency of complications of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the incidence of complications and the need for hospitalization for COVID-19 in groups of patients older than and younger than 60 years of age with rheumatic diseases (RD). Material(s) and Method(s) The study involved 89 patients with RD who underwent COVID-19, verified by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV- 2 RNA, for the period from 05/15/2020 to 12/01/2021. Participants in the study, after talking with the research physician, filled out questionnaires on past COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome. The information was supplemented with data from discharge records after inpatient treatment for COVID-19. Statistica program (version 12) was used for statistical processing. Result(s) The data obtained were differentiated depending on the age of the participants: < 60 years (group 1), N = 69 and > = 60 years (group 2), N = 20. Both groups were dominated by women (82.6% and 85%). The average age in group 1 was 41.9 +/- 11.6 years, in group 2 -68.5 +/- 5.1 years. 19 patients (48.7%) in group 1 and 13 patients (65%) in group 2 were hospitalized. Of these, oxygen support was statistically more frequent (P < 0.05) in group 2 patients 9 (69.2%) vs 5 (26.3%). Complications were registered in group 1 in 9 cases (13%) venous thrombosis in 1 patient, acute respiratory failure in 4 patients and the development of concomitant infections in 4 patients. In group 2, complications were noted significantly more often (P < 0.05) -in 8 cases (40%) venous thrombosis in 2, acute respiratory failure in 1, acute heart failure in 1, acute cerebrovascular accident in 1 and the development of concomitant infections in 3 patients. 7 patients (10.1%) in group 1 had COVID-19 again on average 11.5 +/- 2.2 months after the first case. Of these, 1 patient required hospitalization. There were no recurrences of COVID-19 in group 2. Conclusion(s) Elderly patients with RD with COVID-19 are more likely to need oxygen support. Also in this group, COVID-19 is more likely to cause serious complications, including cardiovascular and respiratory failure and thrombotic complications.