Clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 7 adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy attending a specialist neuromuscular centre

Quinlivan, Ros; Desikan, Mahalekshmi; Cruces, Francis; Pietrusz, Aleksandra; Savvatis, Konstantinos

Due to their frailty and cardiorespiratory compromise adults with DMD are considered extremely vulnerable and at high risk of severe infection should they contract COVID-19. We report 7 adults with DMD aged 17-26 years who tested positive on a nasopharyngeal PCR swab for SARS-CoV-2. Despite long term corticosteroid treatment, severe respiratory compromise requiring night-time ventilation and receiving treatment for moderate to severe cardiomyopathy none of the patients developed moderate to severe symptoms, in fact two remained asymptomatic and two developed only anosmia and reduced sensation. The remaining three developed transient fever with or without sore throat, cough and runny nose. All recovered fully without complication and no patient required hospitalization.