Hospitalization and Mortality from COVID-19 of Patients with Rheumatic Inflammatory Diseases in Andalusia

Mena-Vázquez, Natalia; Arija, Sara Manrique; Rojas-Giménez, Marta; Raya-Álvarez, Enrique; Velloso-Feijoó, María Luisa; López-Medina, C.; Ramos-Giraldez, Consuelo; Godoy-Navarrete, Francisco Javier; Redondo-Rodríguez, Rocío; Cabezas-Lucena, Alba María; Morales-Águila, M.; Romero-Barco, C. M.; Fernández-Nebro, Antonio

Objective To describe whether rheumatic inflammatory diseases (RID) are associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and/or mortality from COVID-19 and identify the factors associated with hospitalization and mortality in RID and COVID-19 in different Hospitals in Andalusia. Methods Design: Multicentre observational case-control study. Patients: RID and COVID-19 from different centres in Andalusia. Controls: patients without RIS matched by sex, age and CRP-COVID. Protocol A list of patients with PCR for COVID-19 was requested from the microbiology service from March 14 to April 14, 2020. The patients who had RID were identified and then consecutively a paired control for each case. Variables The main outcome variable was hospital admission and mortality from COVID-19. Statistical analysis Bivariate followed by binary logistic regression models (DV: mortality/hospital admission). Results One hundred and fifty-six patients were included, 78 with RID and COVID-19 and 78 without RID with COVID-19. The patients did not present characteristics of COVID-19 disease different from the general population, nor did they present higher hospital admission or mortality. The factor associated with mortality in patients with RID was advanced age (OR [95% CI], 1.1 [1.0-1.2]; p = 0.025), while the factors associated with hospitalization were advanced age (OR [95% CI], 1.1 [1.0-1.1]; p = 0.007) and hypertension (OR [95% CI], 3.9 [1.5-6.7]; p = 0.003). Conclusion Mortality and hospital admission due to COVID-19 do not seem to increase in RID. Advanced age was associated with mortality in RID and, in addition, HTN was associated with hospital admission.