Initial behaviors and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in sarcoidosis patients: results of a self-reporting questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with self-declared sarcoidosis are at increased risk of COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality for which vaccination can be lifesaving. Despite this, vaccine hesitancy remains a large barrier to global acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19. We aimed to identify individuals with sarcoidosis who had and had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 vaccine to 1) establish a safety profile of COVID-19 vaccination in those with sarcoidosis and 2) to elucidate factors that contribute to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: A questionnaire inquiring about COVID-19 vaccination status, vaccination side effects, and willingness for future vaccination was distributed from December 2020 to May 2021 to individuals with sarcoidosis living in the US and European countries. Details regarding sarcoidosis manifestations and treatment were solicited. Vaccine attitudes were classified as pro or anti-COVID-19 vaccination for subgroup analysis. RESULTS: At the time of questionnaire administration, 42% of respondents had already received a COVID-19 vaccination, most of whom either denied side effects or reported a local reaction only. Those off sarcoidosis therapy were more likely to report systemic side effects. Among subjects who had not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, 27% of individuals reported they would not receive one once available. Reasons against vaccination were overwhelmingly related to the lack of confidence in vaccine safety and/or efficacy and less related to concerns associated with convenience or complacency. Black individuals, women, and younger adults were more likely to decline vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals with sarcoidosis, COVID-19 vaccination is well-accepted and well-tolerated. Subjects on sarcoidosis therapy reported significantly less vaccination side effects, and thus the correlation between side effects, vaccine type, and vaccine efficacy requires further investigation. Strategies to improve vaccination should focus on improving knowledge and education regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, as well as targeting sources of misinformation, particularly in young, black, and female subpopulations.

ERS clinical practice guidelines on treatment of sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: The major reasons to treat sarcoidosis are to lower the morbidity and mortality risk or to improve quality of life (QoL). The indication for treatment varies depending on which manifestation is the cause of symptoms: lungs, heart, brain, skin or other manifestations. While glucocorticoids remain the first choice for initial treatment of symptomatic disease, prolonged use is associated with significant toxicity. Glucocorticoid-sparing alternatives are available. The presented treatment guidelines aim to provide guidance to physicians treating the very heterogenous sarcoidosis manifestations. METHODS: A European Respiratory Society Task Force committee composed of clinicians, methodologists and patients with experience in sarcoidosis developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) methodology. The committee developed eight PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) questions and these were used to make specific evidence-based recommendations. RESULTS: The Task Force committee delivered 12 recommendations for seven PICOs. These included treatment of pulmonary, cutaneous, cardiac and neurologic disease as well as fatigue. One PICO question regarding small-fibre neuropathy had insufficient evidence to support a recommendation. In addition to the recommendations, the committee provided information on how they use alternative treatments, when there was insufficient evidence to support a recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: There are many treatments available to treat sarcoidosis. Given the diverse nature of the disease, treatment decisions require an assessment of organ involvement, risk for significant morbidity, and impact on QoL of the disease and treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea in sarcoidosis and impact of cpap treatment on fatigue.

RATIONALE: An increased incidence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in sarcoidosis has been described in small sample size studies. Fatigue is common in sarcoidosis and OSA could be a relevant, treatable comorbidity. To date, the effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on fatigue has never been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of OSA in sarcoidosis, fatigue status and daytime sleepiness in patients of our center. To explore the effect of CPAP in fatigue and daytime sleepiness after 3 months using validated questionnaires. METHOD: Single group, one center, open-label prospective cohort study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULT: We enrolled 68 patients and OSA was diagnosed in 60 (88.2%): 25 (36.8%) were mild while 35 (51.5%) were moderate-to-severe. 38 (55.9%) patients received CPAP but only 20 (30.9%) were compliant at 3-month evaluation. Questionnaires demonstrated fatigue in 34 (50%) and daytime sleepiness in 21 (30.9%). In multivariate regression analysis, Scadding stage and FAS behave as predictors of Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) severity while sleepiness and steroids weren't associated. FAS score (ΔFAS = 6.3; p = 0.001) and ESS score (ΔESS = 2.8; p = 0.005) improved after three months of CPAP. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is highly prevalent in patients affected by sarcoidosis. ESS questionnaire is not reliable for OSA screening and other pre-test probability tool should be evaluated in further studies. CPAP leads to a significative reduction of fatigue and daytime sleepiness at three-month. Further studies are needed to confirm the high prevalence of OSA in sarcoidosis and the positive role of CPAP in fatigue. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2020; 37 (2): 169-178).

Risk and outcome of COVID-19 infection in sarcoidosis patients: results of a self-reporting questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that sarcoidosis patients, especially those on immunosuppressive medications, are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection and more severe disease. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed in four languages (English, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish). The questionnaire queried whether patients had been infected with COVID-19 and outcome of the infection. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were collected. RESULTS: A total of 5200 sarcoidosis patients completed the questionnaire with 116 (2.23%) reporting infection and 18 (15.8%) required hospitalization. Increased hazard ratio (HR) for COVID-19 infection were seen for those with a COVID-19 infected roommate (HR=27.44, p<0.0001), health care provider (HR=2.4, p=0.0001), pulmonary sarcoidosis (HR=2.48, p=0.001), neurosarcoidosis (HR=2.02, p<0.01), or rituximab treatment (HR=5.40, p<0.0001). A higher rate of hospitalization was found for those with underlying heart disease (HR=3.19 (1.297-7.855), p<0.02). No other feature including race, other immunosuppressive agent, age, or underlying condition was associated with a significant increased risk for infection or more severe disease. CONCLUSION: The overall rate of COVID-19 was 2.23%, suggesting an increased rate of COVID-19 infection. However, when an analysis of the questionnaires of sarcoidosis and non-sarcoidosis patients was performed in one localized area over this time period, the rate of COVID-19 infection was similar in both groups. Sarcoidosis patients who cohabitated with COVID-19 infected individuals, worked in health care, had pulmonary or neurologic sarcoidosis, or were treated with rituximab had an increased risk for COVID-19 infection. No significant increased risk for hospitalization could be identified based on age, race, gender or any specific immunosuppressive treatment. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2020; 37 (4): e2020009).

Sarcoidosis: patient treatment priorities.

Sarcoidosis patient survey reveals QoL and functionality are required as core outcomes in treatment and care, along with more multidisciplinary working by clinicians and the establishment of specialist sarcoidosis centres in every European country http://ow.ly/DTvt30mQnqc.