Cross-sectional study of COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases in a sample of a Damascene population, Syria

Coronavirus infections have been responsible since 2019 for respiratory illnesses with varying severity worldwide. Worst outcomes from coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in older patients andthose with comorbidities like rheumatic diseases. Some drugs used for treating rheumatic diseases are used in patients with COVID-19. Based on the limited data, rheumatic diseases do not seem to affect the disease course of COVID-19. We aimed to analyze the course of COVID-19 infections in patients with rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed online and to patients admitted with respiratory involvement. Data included demographic information, clinical presentation, severity, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters. Cases were matched by age, sex, the month of admission, and COVID-19 respiratory injury for patients with rheumatic diseases and patients without rheumatic diseases. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (4.4%) had rheumatic diseases before the COVID-19 infection. There were no differences in the use of treatment for COVID-19 infections in previous or present therapy or comorbidities. We found no significant difference in the duration of COVID-19 symptoms before admission, duration of hospital stay, or chest Xray Brixia score between the two groups. The lymphocyte count was lower in the patient group, while lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, and D-dimer concentrations were higher compared to the control group. Thrombotic events were similar in rate. CONCLUSION: The poorer outcome from COVID-19 infections in patients with rheumatic diseases is related to older age and the presence of comorbidities rather than the rheumatic disease type or its treatment.