Better outcomes of COVID-19 in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs).MethodsPatients with SRD with COVID-19 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) were included by their rheumatologists in a registry operated by the Greek Rheumatology Society in a voluntarily basis. Type, date and doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recorded, and demographics, type of SRD, concurrent treatment, comorbidities and COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation, need for oxygen supplementation and death) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.ResultsBetween 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, 195 patients with SRD with COVID-19 were included; 147 unvaccinated and 48 vaccinated with at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer n=38 or AstraZeneca n=10). Among vaccinated patients, 29 developed breakthrough COVID-19 >14 days after the second vaccine dose (fully vaccinated), while 19 between the first and <14 days after the second vaccine dose (partially vaccinated). Despite no differences in demographics, SRD type, treatment or comorbidities between unvaccinated and vaccinated patients, hospitalisation and mortality rates were higher in unvaccinated (29.3% and 4.1%, respectively) compared with partially vaccinated (21% and 0%) or fully vaccinated (10.3% and 0%) patients.ConclusionsVaccinated patients with SRD with breakthrough COVID-19 have better outcomes compared with unvaccinated counterparts with similar disease/treatment characteristics.

All-cause mortality in systemic rheumatic diseases under treatment compared with the general population, 2015–2019

ObjectivesTo compare current all-cause mortality rates in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) versus general population.MethodsIn this population-based, retrospective cohort study, anonymised data on 11 186 586 citizens, including all patients with RA (42 735, 79% female), AS (9707, 43% female), PsA (13 779, 55% female), SLE (10 440, 89% female) and SSc (2277, 88% female), (median age of 64/47/54/53/59 years at study entry, respectively), under prescribed treatment between 2015 and 2019, were extracted from the electronic database covering nearly 99% of the Greek population.ResultsAfter 1:5 (patients:general population) matching for gender/age, we found that survival was worse in SSc, followed by SLE and inflammatory arthritis. Compared with the general population HRs for death increased from the first 3 years to 5 years of observation possibly due to increases in disease duration: RA (from 0.63 to 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.22), AS (from 0.62 to 1.01, (95% CI: 0.76 to 1.33)), PsA (from 0.68 to 1.06, (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.28)), SLE (from 1.52 to 1.98, (95% CI: 1.67 to 2.33)) and SSc (from 2.27 to 4.24, (95% CI: 3.19 to 5.63)). In both SLE and SSc mortality was increased in men than women and in patients younger than 50 years.ConclusionsSurvival rates over 5 years in inflammatory arthritis under treatment are currently becoming comparable (AS/PsA) or slightly higher (RA) than those of the general population. However, all-cause mortality is almost twofold and fourfold higher in SLE and SSc, respectively, being even higher for male and younger patients.

Early experience of COVID-19 vaccination in adults with systemic rheumatic diseases: results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Vaccine Survey

BackgroundWe describe the early experiences of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received the COVID-19 vaccine.MethodsFrom 2 April to 30 April 2021, we conducted an online, international survey of adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received COVID-19 vaccination. We collected patient-reported data on clinician communication, beliefs and intent about discontinuing disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) around the time of vaccination, and patient-reported adverse events after vaccination.ResultsWe analysed 2860 adults with systemic rheumatic diseases who received COVID-19 vaccination (mean age 55.3 years, 86.7% female, 86.3% white). Types of COVID-19 vaccines were Pfizer-BioNTech (53.2%), Oxford/AstraZeneca (22.6%), Moderna (21.3%), Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (1.7%) and others (1.2%). The most common rheumatic disease was rheumatoid arthritis (42.3%), and 81.2% of respondents were on a DMARD. The majority (81.9%) reported communicating with clinicians about vaccination. Most (66.9%) were willing to temporarily discontinue DMARDs to improve vaccine efficacy, although many (44.3%) were concerned about rheumatic disease flares. After vaccination, the most reported patient-reported adverse events were fatigue/somnolence (33.4%), headache (27.7%), muscle/joint pains (22.8%) and fever/chills (19.9%). Rheumatic disease flares that required medication changes occurred in 4.6%.ConclusionAmong adults with systemic rheumatic disease who received COVID-19 vaccination, patient-reported adverse events were typical of those reported in the general population. Most patients were willing to temporarily discontinue DMARDs to improve vaccine efficacy. The relatively low frequency of rheumatic disease flare requiring medications was reassuring.

A case of macrophage activation syndrome in a patient with anti-synthetase syndrome

ABSTRACT Anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies against an aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase with clinical features including interstitial lung disease, non-erosive arthritis, myositis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, unexplained fever and/or mechanic’s hands. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a potentially fatal hyper- inflammatory syndrome that can occur as a complication of systemic rheumatic diseases. However, the association of MAS and ASS has rarely been reported in the literature. Here, we report this association in a patient with overlap ASS and anti-CCP positive rheumatoid arthritis. First line management with steroids was complicated by diabetic ketoacidosis, hence requiring use of anti-IL1 therapy (anakinra) for disease control.

POS1155 INFECTIOUS RISK DURING BIOLOGIC THERAPY FOR INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES: DATA FROM THE TUNISIAN BINAR REGISTRY

Background:The development of biologics for the treatment of systemic rheumatic diseases increased the risk of infections. The management of this complication deserves particular attention since it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality.Objectives:The aim of our study was to determine infection frequency under biological treatment and consequences on the therapeutic management.Methods:Patients included in the Biological National Registry (BINAR) from 2016 to 2020. Data related to the disease, biological agents, and infections occurring under biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were collected.Results:The study included 298 patients with a mean age of 49.2 years [18-79] 175 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 123 with spondyloarthritis (Axial Spondyloarthritis=48, Enteropathic Arthritis=41, Psoriatic Arthritis=34). Anti Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Anti-TNF) agents were the most prescribed bDMARDs in 87.9% (n=263) of patients: Infliximab 20.4% (n=61),Etanercept 23.1%(n=69), Adalimumab 24.6%(n=74) and Certolizumab (n=79). No patients were treated with Golimumab. Tocilizumab and Rituximab were prescribed respectively in 10.4% (n=31) and 5% (n=15) of patients. Infections occured in 9 patients (3.1%) with a total of 13 infectious episodes 12 bacterial and a viral one. The site of infections was: respiratory (38%), urinary (15%), cutaneous (23%), ORL (8%), infective endocarditis (8%), and other (8%). The infectious agent was identified in only 3 patients. The outcomes were favorable in most cases except in one patient where there was a definitive interruption of bDMARDs. The patient was hospitalized for sepsis complicating a cutaneous infection with favorable outcomes under antibiotics within a week. The biological agent with higher risk of infections was Tocilizumab (p = 0.056), unlike Rituximab (p = 0.483) and Anti-TNF (p = 0.082). All patients who had an infectious episode were under corticosteroids.Conclusion:Our results confirm that bDMARDs are predisposing to infections, but data from BINAR showed that most infections were trivial with no serious outcomes. Therefore, infections should be assessed in patients under bDMARDs for an early therapeutic intervention.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.