Predictors of Hospitalisation in Patients with Rheumatic Disease and COVID-19 in Ireland: data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry

Conway, Richard; Nikiphorou, Elena; Demetriou, Christiana A; Low, Candice; Leamy, Kelly; Ryan, John G; Kavanagh, Ronan; Fraser, Alexander D; Carey, John J; O’Connell, Paul; Flood, Rachael M; Mullan, Ronan H; Kane, David J; Robinson, Philip C; Liew, Jean W; Grainger, Rebecca; McCarthy, Geraldine M

OBJECTIVES: Given the limited data regarding the risk of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19 in Ireland we used the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registry data to study outcomes and their predictors. The primary objective was to explore potential predictors of hospitalisation. METHODS: We examined data on patients and their disease-related characteristics entered into the COVID-19 GRA provider registry from Ireland (24(th) March 2020 to 31(st) August 2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic and clinical characteristics with hospitalisation. RESULTS: Of 105 patients, 47 (45.6%) were hospitalised and 10 (9.5%) died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed age (OR = 1.06, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.10), number of comorbidities (OR = 1.93, 95%CI 1.11 to 3.35), and glucocorticoid use (OR = 15.01, 95%CI 1.77 to 127.16) were significantly associated with hospitalisation. A diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with a lower odds of hospitalisation (OR = 0.09, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.32). CONCLUSION: Increasing age, comorbidity burden, and glucocorticoid use were associated with hospitalisation, while a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with lower odds of hospitalization.