COVID-19 IN CHILDREN WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES (RD) IN THE SPANISH NATIONAL COHORT EPICO-AEP.

Calvo, C.; Remesal, A.; Murias, S.; Ara-Montojo, F.; Otheo, E.; Sanz-Santaeufemia, F. J.; Villaroya, A.; Moraleda, C.; Tagarro, A.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults with rheumatic diseases (RD) is a cause for concern. Data in the pediatric population are practically absent. We aimed to describe the prevalence of patients with RD and their complications among children admitted with COVID-19 in the Spanish national cohort EPICO-AEP; a multicenter prospective national study. Methods: Children <18 years old with RD and COVID-19 enrolled in EPICO-AEP were included in this study. Results: By June 30th 2020, 350 children were admitted in secondary and tertiary hospitals of Spain with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 8 patients presented RD (2.2% of those hospitalized). All were female. The median age was 12.1 years (IQR 8.3-14.5). The diagnosis related with COVID-19 were febrile syndrome and/or upper respiratory infection (4 cases) and pneumonia (4 cases). One of the 8 (12.5%) patients with a severe juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) with interstitial lung disease died. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) was the most frequent diagnosis in 3/8 (37.5%) patients. In 5/8 (62.5%) cases, the RD was not fully controlled, and all patients except one received corticosteroid treatment. Conclusions: Children with RD have accounted for 2.2% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in our series. The evolution has been moderately favorable, with one deceased. In case of active disease and use of corticosteroids patients should be managed with caution. Key words: COVID-19, children, rheumatic diseases, corticosteroids.