Participating as a research team during the COVID-19 pandemic benefits mental health of undergraduate medical students in Brazil.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, undergraduate medical students (UMS) exposed to isolation, social distancing and complete or partial face-to-face educational activities interruption may present increased stress, depression and anxiety. This study was undertaken to evaluate if, during isolation, UMS involved in online group activities as investigators of a research project (volunteer group) would present better mental health than their colleagues, not involved in that research (control group). A Web-based survey, via the Google Forms platform, including details on demographic data, life habits, previous health conditions, worries with the COVID-19 pandemic, sleep pattern modifications and depression, anxiety and mental stress, using the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) was implemented from 20 July to 31 August 2020. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20.0. A p-value <0.05 was significant. A total of 684 UMS were included, 228 as a volunteer group and 456 as a control group. Mean age was 23.15 (3.16) years. The groups were paired for age, gender, ethnicity, life habits and previous health conditions. Older age, male gender, participation in the research project, unchanged sleep pattern during the pandemic, lack of fear from getting the COVID-19 and lack of previous health conditions were associated with lower DASS21 scores (better mental health). Participating as investigators of a research project foreseeing frequent interaction with patients, colleagues and professors (other investigators) lead to better mental health during the COVID-19 quarantine in Brazil.

How Did Patients Living With Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases Face the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil? Results of the COnVIDa Study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought additional burden to patients living with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs), especially at the beginning of 2020, for which information for this population is lacking. METHODS: COnVIDa is a cross-sectional study on patients with IMRD from all regions of Brazil who were invited to answer a specific and customized Web questionnaire about how they were facing the COVID-19 pandemic, especially focusing on health care access, use of medications, and patient-reported outcomes related to IMRD activity. The questionnaire was applied from June 1 to 30, 2020. RESULTS: In total, 1722 of 2576 patients who answered the Web questionnaire were included in the final analysis. Participants were most frequently women, 56% were between 31 and 50 years old, and most (55%) has private health insurance. The most commonly reported IMRD was rheumatoid arthritis (39%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (28%). During the study period, 30.7% did not have access to rheumatology consultations, and 17.6% stopped chronic medications. Telemedicine was reported in 44.8% of patients. CONCLUSION: COnVIDa demonstrated a negative impact on health care access and treatment maintenance of patients living with IMRD during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it also presented an uptake of telemedicine strategies. Data presented in this study may assist future coping policies.

II Brazilian Society of Rheumatology consensus for lupus nephritis diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To develop the second evidence-based Brazilian Society of Rheumatology consensus for diagnosis and treatment of lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: Two methodologists and 20 rheumatologists from Lupus Comittee of Brazilian Society of Rheumatology participate in the development of this guideline. Fourteen PICO questions were defined and a systematic review was performed. Eligible randomized controlled trials were analyzed regarding complete renal remission, partial renal remission, serum creatinine, proteinuria, serum creatinine doubling, progression to end-stage renal disease, renal relapse, and severe adverse events (infections and mortality). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to develop these recommendations. Recommendations required ≥82% of agreement among the voting members and were classified as strongly in favor, weakly in favor, conditional, weakly against or strongly against a particular intervention. Other aspects of LN management (diagnosis, general principles of treatment, treatment of comorbidities and refractory cases) were evaluated through literature review and expert opinion. RESULTS: All SLE patients should undergo creatinine and urinalysis tests to assess renal involvement. Kidney biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing LN but, if it is not available or there is a contraindication to the procedure, therapeutic decisions should be based on clinical and laboratory parameters. Fourteen recommendations were developed. Target Renal response (TRR) was defined as improvement or maintenance of renal function (±10% at baseline of treatment) combined with a decrease in 24-h proteinuria or 24-h UPCR of 25% at 3 months, a decrease of 50% at 6 months, and proteinuria < 0.8 g/24 h at 12 months. Hydroxychloroquine should be prescribed to all SLE patients, except in cases of contraindication. Glucocorticoids should be used at the lowest dose and for the minimal necessary period. In class III or IV (±V), mycophenolate (MMF), cyclophosphamide, MMF plus tacrolimus (TAC), MMF plus belimumab or TAC can be used as induction therapy. For maintenance therapy, MMF or azathioprine (AZA) are the first choice and TAC or cyclosporin or leflunomide can be used in patients who cannot use MMF or AZA. Rituximab can be prescribed in cases of refractory disease. In cases of failure in achieving TRR, it is important to assess adherence, immunosuppressant dosage, adjuvant therapy, comorbidities, and consider biopsy/rebiopsy. CONCLUSION: This consensus provides evidence-based data to guide LN diagnosis and treatment, supporting the development of public and supplementary health policies in Brazil.

Effects of Participating in a Research Project During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students' Educational Routines and Mental Health: Protocol for a Web-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation, which has a potential negative impact on the educational routines (eg, the suspension of face-to-face appointments) and mental health of medical students. The Mario Pinotti II (MPII) study is a 24-week observational study that conducted scheduled telephone calls every 2 weeks to verify the occurrence of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases on chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy (from March 29, 2020, to September 30, 2020). The effects of voluntarily participating in a research project (ie, one that involves interactions via telephone contact with patients, professors, rheumatologists, and colleagues) on the daily lives and mental health of medical students requires evaluation. OBJECTIVE: As medical students are professionals in training and have a high level of responsibility in terms of handling the emotional and physical aspects of several diseases, this study aims to evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and participation in the MPII study on the educational routines and mental health of medical students. METHODS: A web-based survey was carried out to perform a cross-sectional comparative assessment of medical students who participated in the MPII study and their colleagues who were not involved in the MPII study. Participants from both groups were matched based on sex, age, and medical school. The web questionnaire was developed by a panel composed of graduate medical students, rheumatologists, medical school professors, and a psychology professor. The questionnaire included details on demographic and life habits data and evaluated participants' impressions of the MPII study and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their educational routines and medical training. In addition, depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS)-21, and currently, the DASS-21 scores are grouped as those that indicate a low, moderate, or high risk of mental distress. This project was approved by the Federal University of São Paulo Ethics Committee (CAAE: 34034620.0.0000.5505). RESULTS: Data were collected from both medical student groups from July 20 to August 31, 2020. Data extraction was completed in September 2020. The data analysis is ongoing. We expect the results to be published in the first semester of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide insight into the effects of participating in a research project on depression, anxiety, and stress, which will be determined by applying the DASS-21 to a large sample of Brazilian undergraduate medical students. We will also evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students' educational routines and medical training. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/24617.

Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica might be at a high risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes due to the treatments used, the potential organ damage cause by primary systemic vasculitis, and the demographic factors associated with these conditions. We therefore aimed to investigate factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes in patients with primary systemic vasculitis or polymyalgia rheumatica. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients (aged ≥18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 12, 2020, and April 12, 2021, who had a history of primary systemic vasculitis (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody [ANCA]-associated vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, Behçet's syndrome, or other vasculitis) or polymyalgia rheumatica, and were reported to the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry were included. To assess COVID-19 outcomes in patients, we used an ordinal COVID-19 severity scale, defined as: (1) no hospitalisation; (2) hospitalisation without supplemental oxygen; (3) hospitalisation with any supplemental oxygen or ventilation; or (4) death. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for age, sex, time period, number of comorbidities, smoking status, obesity, glucocorticoid use, disease activity, region, and medication category. Analyses were also stratified by type of rheumatic disease. FINDINGS: Of 1202 eligible patients identified in the registry, 733 (61·0%) were women and 469 (39·0%) were men, and their mean age was 63·8 years (SD 17·1). A total of 374 (31·1%) patients had polymyalgia rheumatica, 353 (29·4%) had ANCA-associated vasculitis, 183 (15·2%) had giant cell arteritis, 112 (9·3%) had Behçet's syndrome, and 180 (15·0%) had other vasculitis. Of 1020 (84·9%) patients with outcome data, 512 (50·2%) were not hospitalised, 114 (11·2%) were hospitalised and did not receive supplemental oxygen, 239 (23·4%) were hospitalised and received ventilation or supplemental oxygen, and 155 (15·2%) died. A higher odds of poor COVID-19 outcomes were observed in patients who were older (per each additional decade of life OR 1·44 [95% CI 1·31-1·57]), were male compared with female (1·38 [1·05-1·80]), had more comorbidities (per each additional comorbidity 1·39 [1·23-1·58]), were taking 10 mg/day or more of prednisolone compared with none (2·14 [1·50-3·04]), or had moderate, or high or severe disease activity compared with those who had disease remission or low disease activity (2·12 [1·49-3·02]). Risk factors varied among different disease subtypes. INTERPRETATION: Among patients with primary systemic vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica, severe COVID-19 outcomes were associated with variable and largely unmodifiable risk factors, such as age, sex, and number of comorbidities, as well as treatments, including high-dose glucocorticoids. Our results could be used to inform mitigation strategies for patients with these diseases. FUNDING: American College of Rheumatology and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology.

Chronic use of hydroxychloroquine did not protect against COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information on the role of chronic use of hydroxychloroquine during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of COVID-19 between rheumatic disease patients on hydroxychloroquine with individuals from the same household not taking the drug during the first 8 weeks of community viral transmission in Brazil. METHODS: This baseline cross-sectional analysis is part of a 24-week observational multi-center study involving 22 Brazilian academic outpatient centers. All information regarding COVID-19 symptoms, epidemiological, clinical, and demographic data were recorded on a specific web-based platform using telephone calls from physicians and medical students. COVID-19 was defined according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) criteria. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis and two binary Final Logistic Regression Model by Wald test were developed using a backward-stepwise method for the presence of COVID-19. RESULTS: From March 29th to May 17st, 2020, a total of 10,443 participants were enrolled, including 5166 (53.9%) rheumatic disease patients, of whom 82.5% had systemic erythematosus lupus, 7.8% rheumatoid arthritis, 3.7% Sjögren's syndrome and 0.8% systemic sclerosis. In total, 1822 (19.1%) participants reported flu symptoms within the 30 days prior to enrollment, of which 3.1% fulfilled the BMH criteria, but with no significant difference between rheumatic disease patients (4.03%) and controls (3.25%). After adjustments for multiple confounders, the main risk factor significantly associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis was lung disease (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.03-2.58); and for rheumatic disease patients were diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.19-6.63) and glucocorticoids above 10 mg/ day (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31-3.19). In addition, a recent influenza vaccination had a protective effect (OR 0.674; 95% CI 0.46-0.98). CONCLUSION: Patients with rheumatic disease on hydroxychloroquine presented a similar occurrence of COVID-19 to household cohabitants, suggesting a lack of any protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC; RBR - 9KTWX6).

Effect of systemic arterial hypertension and use of antiproteinuric drug in induction therapy for lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic response to induction treatment in lupus nephritis patients. METHODS: A total of 29 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and biopsy-proven nephritis were divided into two groups, one with hypertensive individuals and another non-hypertensive patients. The hypertensive patients included were on drugs with antiproteinuric effect. The induction treatment comprised mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide, based on 24-hour proteinuria and serum creatinine parameters for therapeutic evaluation after 6 months of intervention. The retrospective evaluation of the follow-up was made based on information collected from the medical records. RESULTS: Patients with and without hypertension presented similar behaviors of proteinuria (p=0.127) and creatinine (p=0.514) over time. For proteinuria, only the time effect (p=0.007), but not hypertensive effect (p=0.232), was found. There was a reduction in proteinuria levels (reduction by 3.28g/24 hours, on average) from the beginning to the final measurement. As to creatinine, no hypertensive (p=0.757) or time (p=0.154) effects were found. CONCLUSION: Similarity in behavior of proteinuria was observed, after induction treatment for nephritis, taking into account the hypertensive effect. The prior condition did not hinder these patients reaching the recommended proteinuria goal.

Chronic use of hydroxychloroquine did not protect against COVID-19 in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases in Brazil

Abstract Background: There is a lack of information on the role of chronic use of hydroxychloroquine during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of COVID-19 between rheumatic disease patients on hydroxychloroquine with individuals from the same household not taking the drug during the first 8 weeks of community viral transmission in Brazil. Methods: This baseline cross-sectional analysis is part of a 24-week observational multi-center study involving 22 Brazilian academic outpatient centers. All information regarding COVID-19 symptoms, epidemiological, clinical, and demographic data were recorded on a specific web-based platform using telephone calls from physicians and medical students. COVID-19 was defined according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) criteria. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests were used for statistical analysis and two binary Final Logistic Regression Model by Wald test were developed using a backward-stepwise method for the presence of COVID-19. Results: From March 29th to May 17st, 2020, a total of 10,443 participants were enrolled, including 5166 (53.9%) rheumatic disease patients, of whom 82.5% had systemic erythematosus lupus, 7.8% rheumatoid arthritis, 3.7% Sjögren's syndrome and 0.8% systemic sclerosis. In total, 1822 (19.1%) participants reported flu symptoms within the 30 days prior to enrollment, of which 3.1% fulfilled the BMH criteria, but with no significant difference between rheumatic disease patients (4.03%) and controls (3.25%). After adjustments for multiple confounders, the main risk factor significantly associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis was lung disease (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.03-2.58); and for rheumatic disease patients were diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.19-6.63) and glucocorticoids above 10 mg/ day (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.31-3.19). In addition, a recent influenza vaccination had a protective effect (OR 0.674; 95% CI 0.46-0.98). Conclusion: Patients with rheumatic disease on hydroxychloroquine presented a similar occurrence of COVID-19 to household cohabitants, suggesting a lack of any protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC; RBR - 9KTWX6).

Effect of systemic arterial hypertension and use of antiproteinuric drug in induction therapy for lupus nephritis / Efeito da hipertensão arterial sistêmica com uso de antiproteinúrico na terapia de indução da nefrite lúpica

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the therapeutic response to induction treatment in lupus nephritis patients. Methods A total of 29 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and biopsy-proven nephritis were divided into two groups, one with hypertensive individuals and another non-hypertensive patients. The hypertensive patients included were on drugs with antiproteinuric effect. The induction treatment comprised mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide, based on 24-hour proteinuria and serum creatinine parameters for therapeutic evaluation after 6 months of intervention. The retrospective evaluation of the follow-up was made based on information collected from the medical records. Results Patients with and without hypertension presented similar behaviors of proteinuria (p=0.127) and creatinine (p=0.514) over time. For proteinuria, only the time effect (p=0.007), but not hypertensive effect (p=0.232), was found. There was a reduction in proteinuria levels (reduction by 3.28g/24 hours, on average) from the beginning to the final measurement. As to creatinine, no hypertensive (p=0.757) or time (p=0.154) effects were found. Conclusion Similarity in behavior of proteinuria was observed, after induction treatment for nephritis, taking into account the hypertensive effect. The prior condition did not hinder these patients reaching the recommended proteinuria goal.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar resposta terapêutica a tratamento de indução de pacientes com nefrite lúpica. Métodos Foram divididos em dois grupos 29 pacientes com diagnóstico de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e nefrite comprovada por biópsia, sendo um de portadores de hipertensão e outro sem essa comorbidade. Dentre os hipertensos, foram incluídos aqueles que faziam uso de antiproteinúrico. O tratamento de indução foi realizado com micofenolato de mofetila ou ciclofosfamida, sendo utilizados os parâmetros de proteinúria de 24 horas e creatinina sérica para avaliação terapêutica após 6 meses da intervenção. A avaliação retrospectiva do seguimento foi realizada a partir de informações coletadas de prontuário. Resultados Pacientes com e sem hipertensão apresentaram comportamentos similares de proteinúria (p=0,127) e creatinina (p=0,514) ao longo do tempo. Para a proteinúria, observou-se apenas o efeito de tempo (p=0,007), mas não de hipertensão (p=0,232). Houve redução nos níveis da proteinúria (redução de 3,28g/24 horas, em média) do início para o momento pós. Já para a creatinina, não se observou efeito de hipertensão (p=0,757) e tampouco de tempo (p=0,154). Conclusão Observamos similaridade no comportamento da proteinúria, após tratamento de indução para nefrite, levando em conta o efeito hipertensão. A comorbidade prévia não se mostrou impeditiva para que estes pacientes atingissem a meta de proteinúria preconizada.

Estudo da densidade óssea em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico na pré-menopausa / Study of bone density in premenopausal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objetivo: Estudar a densidade óssea na coluna lombar e no colo do fêmur de pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) na pré-menopausa e avaliar a influência de corticoterapia e de outros fatores de risco para osteoporose nestas pacientes. Pacientes e métodos: A densidade mineral óssea na coluna lombar (L1-L4) e no colo do fêmur foi medida por densitômetro de dupla emissao com fontes de raios X em 40 pacientes com LES, na pré-menopausa, caucasóides, com média de idade 32,4 anos e média de tempo do doença de 6,8 anos, e no grupo-controle, constituído por 53 mulheres na pré-menopausa, caucasóides, saudáveis, com média de idade 32,5 anos. Resultados: A densidade óssea na coluna lombar foi significativamente menor nas pacientes com LES quando comparada ao grupo-controle. Ao dividirmos as pacientes com LES segundo a dose total e a dose média diária de glicocorticóide (GC) utilizada no último ano, nao houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as densidade ósseas dessas pacientes. Ao avaliarmos outros fatores que pudessem ter interferido na reduçao da massa óssea da pacientes com LES, nao encontramos associaçao entre densidade óssea e tempo de doença, idade de início da doença, menarca, paridade e ingestao de leite e café. Conclusao: Pacientes com LES apresentaram diminuiçao da densidade mineral óssea na coluna que nao parece estar relacionada à dose de GC e esta diminuiçao talvez seja decorrente da própria doença, devido à açao dos mediadores da inflamaçao