COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity Reduces Hospitalization and Critical Care Needs Related to COVID-19: a USIDNET Report.

BACKGROUND: The CDC and ACIP recommend COVID-19 vaccination for patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Not much is known about vaccine safety in IEI, and whether vaccination attenuates infection severity in IEI. OBJECTIVE: To estimate COVID-19 vaccination safety and examine effect on outcomes in patients with IEI. METHODS: We built a secure registry database in conjunction with the US Immunodeficiency Network to examine vaccination frequency and indicators of safety and effectiveness in IEI patients. The registry opened on January 1, 2022, and closed on August 19, 2022. RESULTS: Physicians entered data on 1245 patients from 24 countries. The most common diagnoses were antibody deficiencies (63.7%). At least one COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 806 patients (64.7%), and 216 patients received vaccination prior to the development of COVID-19. The most common vaccines administered were mRNA-based (84.0%). Seventeen patients were reported to seek outpatient clinic or emergency room care for a vaccine-related complication, and one patient was hospitalized for symptomatic anemia. Eight hundred twenty-three patients (66.1%) experienced COVID-19 infection. Of these, 156 patients required hospitalization (19.0%), 47 required ICU care (5.7%), and 28 died (3.4%). Rates of hospitalization (9.3% versus 24.4%, p < 0.001), ICU admission (2.8% versus 7.6%, p = 0.013), and death (2.3% versus 4.3%, p = 0.202) in patients who had COVID-19 were lower in patients who received vaccination prior to infection. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, not having at least one COVID-19 vaccine significantly increased the odds of hospitalization and ICU admission. CONCLUSION: Vaccination for COVID-19 in the IEI population appears safe and attenuates COVID-19 severity.

Allergy/Immunology Trainee Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: AAAAI Work Group Report of the Fellows-in-Training Committee.

As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, medical trainees have faced unique challenges and uncertainties. To capture the experiences of allergy and immunology fellows throughout the United States and Canada during this time, a 17-item electronic questionnaire was distributed to 380 fellow-in-training (FIT) members of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology enrolled in US and Canadian allergy/immunology fellowship programs. Voluntary and anonymous responses were collected from April 15 to May 15, 2020. In addition to summary statistics, categorical data were compared using χ2 tests (Fisher's exact). Responses were obtained from FITs across all years of training and primary specialties (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Medicine-Pediatrics) with a response rate of 32.6% (124 of 380). Reassignment to COVID-19 clinical responsibilities was reported by 12% (15 of 124) of FITs, with the largest proportion in the US northeast region. A majority of FITs used telehealth (95%) and virtual learning (82%) during the pandemic. Overall, 21% (25 of 120) of FITs expressed concern about potentially lacking clinical experience for independently practicing allergy and immunology. However, FITs using telehealth reported lower concern compared with those who did not (18.4% [21 of 114] vs 66.7% [4 of 6]; P = .01). The survey shows that allergy and immunology trainee experiences have varied considerably since the COVID-19 outbreak. Notably, the adoption of telehealth and virtual learning was commonly reported, and optimization of these virtual experiences will be helpful. Even outside of pandemics, training on the use of telemedicine may be a sound strategy in preparation for future health care delivery and unexpected events.

Relationship Between Severity of T Cell Lymphopenia and Immune Dysregulation in Patients with DiGeorge Syndrome (22q11.2 Deletions and/or Related TBX1 Mutations): a USIDNET Study.

PURPOSE: DiGeorge syndrome has substantial heterogeneity with variable immune deficiency and dysregulation. Implicated immunopathology includes reduced thymic output and increased peripheral homeostatic proliferation with Th2 skewing and expansion of self-reactive cells. We hypothesized that T cell lymphopenia severity will be associated with higher odds of autoimmunity and/or asthma. METHODS: Using the US Immunodeficiency Network registry, we identified patients with 22q11.2 deletion (and/or TBX1). Initial absolute CD3+ T cell values were stratified: normal, 50-99% and below 50% of the lower limit of age-adjusted normal values. Patients with and without reported autoimmunity and asthma were compared using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 415 patients, autoimmunity was reported in 17 (4.1%), and asthma was reported in 28 (6.7%). Compared with those with no reported autoimmunity, patients with reported autoimmunity more frequently had low CD19+ B cells [3.3% (12/364) vs 28.6% (4/14); p = 0.002] and low IgG [6.2% (20/321) vs 29.4% (5/17); p = 0.005] levels. There were no statistically significant differences in other immune characteristics among those with and without reported asthma. Patients with absolute CD3 levels below 50% of age-adjusted normal values had higher odds of reported autoimmunity (n = 319, OR = 7.56, 95% CI = 1.58-36.17, p = 0.01) and reported asthma (n = 319, OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.06-18.93, p = 0.04) as compared with those with normal CD3 values, adjusted for age and low IgG. CONCLUSIONS: Absolute CD3+ T cell counts below 50% of age-adjusted normal values may be associated with higher odds of autoimmunity and/or asthma in patients with DiGeorge syndrome and be potentially useful to identify higher-risk patients.

Asthma among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and related outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Several underlying conditions have been associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 illness, but it remains unclear whether underlying asthma is associated with worse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Given the high prevalence of asthma in the New York City area, our objective was to determine whether underlying asthma was associated with poor outcomes among hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 compared with patients without asthma. METHODS: Electronic heath records were reviewed for 1298 sequential patients 65 years or younger without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were admitted to our hospital system with a confirmed positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test result. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of asthma among all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 12.6%, yet a higher prevalence (23.6%) was observed in the subset of 55 patients younger than 21 years. There was no significant difference in hospital length of stay, need for intubation, length of intubation, tracheostomy tube placement, hospital readmission, or mortality between patients with and without asthma. Observations between patients with and without asthma were similar when stratified by obesity, other comorbid conditions (ie, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes), use of controller asthma medication, and absolute eosinophil count. CONCLUSIONS: Among hospitalized patients 65 years or younger with severe COVID-19, asthma diagnosis was not associated with worse outcomes, regardless of age, obesity, or other high-risk comorbidities. Future population-based studies are needed to investigate the risk of developing COVID-19 among patients with asthma once universal testing becomes readily available.