Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatic diseases: data from the SAR-COVID Registry.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the course and to identify poor prognostic factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases. METHODS: Patients ≥ 18 years of age, with a rheumatic disease, who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively included by major rheumatology centers from Argentina, in the national, observational SAR-COVID registry between August 13, 2020 and July 31, 2021. Hospitalization, oxygen requirement, and death were considered poor COVID-19 outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1915 patients were included. The most frequent rheumatic diseases were rheumatoid arthritis (42%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (16%). Comorbidities were reported in half of them (48%). Symptoms were reported by 95% of the patients, 28% were hospitalized, 8% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 4% died due to COVID-19. During hospitalization, 9% required non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) or high flow oxygen devices and 17% invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). In multivariate analysis models, using poor COVID-19 outcomes as dependent variables, older age, male gender, higher disease activity, treatment with glucocorticoids or rituximab, and the presence of at least one comorbidity and a greater number of them were associated with worse prognosis. In addition, patients with public health insurance and Mestizos were more likely to require hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the known poor prognostic factors, in this cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases, high disease activity, and treatment with glucocorticoids and rituximab were associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, patients with public health insurance and Mestizos were 44% and 39% more likely to be hospitalized, respectively. STUDY REGISTRATION: This study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the number NCT04568421. Key Points • High disease activity, and treatment with glucocorticoids and rituximab were associated with poor COVID-19 outcome in patients with rheumatic diseases. • Some socioeconomic factors related to social inequality, including non-Caucasian ethnicity and public health insurance, were associated with hospitalization due to COVID-19.

¿Es la nefritis lúpica un factor pronóstico en el embarazo? Resultados maternos y fetales / Is Lupus Nephritis a Prognosis Factor for Pregnancy? Maternal and Foetal Outcomes

Introducción: La preexistencia de nefritis lúpica (NL) es un factor de riesgo importante al planificar un embarazo debido al riesgo de complicaciones. Objetivo: Evaluar complicaciones maternas y fetales en la gestación de mujeres con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) con y sin NL previa a la concepción. Métodos: Se estudiaron retrospectivamente todas las pacientes lúpicas embarazadas con y sin NL previa, asistidas desde enero de 2015 hasta abril de 2017. Se analizaron datos demográficos, clínicos y de laboratorio, presencia de anticuerpos antifosfolípidos (AAF) y síndrome antifosfolípido (SAF) según criterios de Sydney, resultados maternos y fetales.Resultados: Se incluyeron 79 pacientes, 40 con NL previa y 39 sin NL, sumando 121 embarazos (52 sin NL y 69 con NL). El grupo NL registró mayor porcentaje de presencia de AAF, SAF y mayor SLEDAI basal, además recibieron más terapia inmunosupresora y corticoidea. En NL fue más frecuente la claseIV (47,5%): 25,8% en el grupo NL vs 10,9% (p=0,041) tuvieron reactivaciones, especialmente renales, sin desarrollo de enfermedad renal terminal. La preeclampsia fue mayor en el grupo con NL: 18,8% vs 6,3% sin NL (p=0,047). Registramos una muerte materna en el grupo NL. La vía de finalización fue cesárea (68,5% en el grupo NL y 31,5% en grupo sin NL), siendo más frecuente de urgencia en el grupo con NL. En resultados fetales, no hubo diferencia en porcentaje de nacidos vivos, peso del neonato ni edad gestacional. Se registraron 3 muertes fetales: 2 en el grupo con NL y 1 en el otro. Conclusión: Las pacientes con NL sufrieron más complicaciones maternas como brote lúpico y preeclampsia. Sin embargo, la NL no conduciría a peores resultados obstétricos ni fetales.

Background: Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and nephritis (LN) is at risk of foetal and maternal complications. Objective: to evaluate the effect of LN on pregnancy with respect to foetal and maternal outcome.Methods: We retrospectively studied all pregnant SLE patients with and without diagnosis of LN, who attended the Materno Neonatal Hospital in Cordoba city, Argentina, from January 2015 to April 2017. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. The presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and antiphospholipid antibodies (AAF), and maternal and foetal outcome were evaluated. Results: 121 pregnancies in 79 patients were included. Pregnancies were divided into those with LN (69) and those without LN (52). The presence of APS and AAF was more frequent in the LN group as well as higher basal SLEDAI. The LN group received more immunosuppressive therapy and increased steroid dose treatment. Of the patients, 47.5% had ClassIV LN. Lupus flares occurred more frequently in the LN group 25.8% vs 10.9% in the group without LN (P=.041), mainly renal flares in the LN group. No patients developed end-stage renal failure. Preeclampsia was more frequent in the LN group, 18.8% vs 6.3% in the group without LN (P=.047). There was only one maternal death. A caesarean section was required in 68.5% of the LN group vs 31.5 in the group without LN, and urgent caesarean section was also performed in the LN group. There were no differences in foetal outcomes in either group: live birth, gestational age, weight birth, perinatal death, foetal distress.Conclusions: Patients with LN experienced more maternal complications such as lupus flares and preeclampsia. However, LN does not lead to a worse pregnancy and foetal outcome. Patients should be strictly monitored before and after conception.(AU)