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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The authors conducted the present retrospective study to assess the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As known, COVID-19 can cause fatal respiratory infection and may be accompanied with multiorgan affection, including the kidney and heart. The morbidity and mortality may be higher in patients with the immune-deficiency condition. Patients and methods The present study is a retrospective cohort study that retrieved the data of 307 patients with and/or without RA evaluated in Rheumatology Department in Mataria Teaching Hospital, who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Patients' medical record IDs were reviewed between April and May, following the peak of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Selected patients were classified into two groups: the first group included 257 RA patients infected with COVID-19 versus 52 control groups infected with COVID-19. RA cases with confirmed COVID-19 through the period of April 2020 and May 2021. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on positive RT–PCR. Results The number of RA patients infected with COVID was 257 (83.7%). Fever (56.0%), fatigue (78.2%), myalgia (37.0%), and arthralgia (9.7%). Some patients developed shortness of breath (29.6%), chest pain that was found in 32.8% of patients. Ground-glass opacities were present in 31.3% and 18.7% presented with consolidation, 30% of rheumatoid patients developed respiratory failure. RA patients receiving conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were 96.8%. Conclusion Most rheumatic disorders, including RA, were likely to develop COVID-19 infection, but there was no evidence of a worse prognosis or poor outcome, despite immunosuppressive therapy.

Keywords

Coronavirus, COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, SARS-COV-2

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