Incidence of COVID-19 in 902 Patients With Immunomediated Inflammatory Diseases Treated With Biologics and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs—Findings From the BIOCOVID Study

  1. Muñoz-Fernández, Santiago
  2. Cebrian, Laura 1
  3. Thuissard, Israel John 2
  4. Steiner, Martina
  5. García-Yubero, Cristina 23
  6. Esteban, Ana Victoria 3
  7. Sánchez, Fernando 1
  8. Gómez, Alejandro
  9. Matías, Maria Angeles 1
  10. Cobo-Ibáñez, Tatiana
  11. Esteban, Mar 4
  12. Manceñido, Noemí 23
  13. Pajares, Ramón 23
  14. Arribas, María Rosario 23
  15. Martínez, Alicia 23
  16. Andreu, Cristina 2
  17. Esteban, Concepción 5
  18. Romero, Liz
  19. Navío, Teresa 16
  1. 1 Hospital Infanta Leonor
    info

    Hospital Infanta Leonor

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05nfzf209

  2. 2 Universidad Europea de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Europea de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04dp46240

  3. 3 Hospital Infanta Sofia
    info

    Hospital Infanta Sofia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05dfzd836

  4. 4 Ophthalmology Section
  5. 5 Pharmacy Service
  6. 6 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Journal:
JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology

ISSN: 1536-7355 1076-1608

Year of publication: 2022

Volume: 28

Issue: 2

Pages: e348-e352

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000001716 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients with immunomediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) treated with biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs) and to evaluate the influence of either IMIDs or related therapies on the incidence and evolution of COVID-19.Methods This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted from January 31, 2020, to May 15, 2020. Data of 902 patients were obtained from clinical records in hospitals, primary care units, and community pharmacies. Inclusion criteria were adults with IMIDs treated with bDMARDs or tsDMARDs who started therapy 3 months prior to study commencement. Patients with poor adherence to treatments were excluded. COVID-19 was classified as “definitive” (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction [PCR]–positive), “possible” (characteristic symptoms and negative PCR), and “suspected” (characteristic symptoms but PCR not performed).Results COVID-19 was diagnosed in 70 patients (11 definitive, 19 possible, and 40 suspected). The cumulative incidence of definitive COVID-19 was 1.2%. When considering all cases, the incidence was 7.8%. Patients on biosimilars tumor necrosis factor blockers were more likely to have a diagnosis of COVID-19 (odds ratio, 2.308; p < 0.001). Patients on anti–B-cell therapies had a lower incidence of infections (p = 0.046). Low rates of hospitalization (14.3%), pneumonia (14.3%), death (2.9%), or thrombosis (2.9%) were observed, and 94.3% of patients recovered.Conclusions The cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 was similar to the general population, with generally low hospitalization, intensive care management, and mortality rates. COVID-19 incidence was less frequent in patients with more severe immunosuppression.

Funding information

This work was supported by grant from “Fundación para la Investigación e Innovación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía y Hospital Universitario del Henares” (FIIB HUIS HHEN) with code FHH20/COVID04.

Funders

  • Fundación para la Investigación e Innovación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía y Hospital Universitario del Henares Spain
    • FHH20/COVID04

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