Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in patients with Huntington diesease

Pane, C.; Russo, C. V.; Celano, I.; Coscetta, F.; Trinchillo, A.; De Michele, G.; Salvatore, E.; Di Maio, L.; Colella, C.; De Lucia, N.; De Anna, R.; Saccà , F.

If Huntington disease (HD) may represent a risk factor for Covid-19 is debated. The aim of our work was to assess the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on HD disease progression, to evaluate patients vulnerability to Covid-19 infection and the incidence of severe manifestations compared to the general population. Methods After obtaining oral informed consent, we conducted a telephone interview directed to patients or care-givers, using an ad hoc developed semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of two sections and is shown in table 1. Section one: telephone interview to HD patients Section two: telephone interview to HD patients who tested positive for COVID19 Results We interviewed a total of 112 HD patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 72.3% of patients experienced a progression of the basal clinical condition (figure 1). Thirty-one-percent of patients changed their pre-existing psychiatric therapy or started a new one. Interestingly, 50% described the onset of a new sleep disorder. Analysis of the standards of care showed that 78% of the patients missed their scheduled medical visit and 64.7% stopped physiotherapy. Within the observed cohort 10.8% of patients tested positive for Covid-19 infection, 6 experienced symptoms and 5 of them had comorbidities. Despite resolution of the infection 3 patients underwent a rapid progressive and generalized clinical worsening. Conclusion Our study was among one of the first to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on HD patients. Our results shown that most patients experienced a global clinical worsening since the beginning of the pandemic. Despite the more severe confinement measure adopted by HD patients, the incidence, and the morbidity of Covid-19 infection seemed to be higher than the general population (Buder, et al., 2021). Whether HD represents per se a risk factor for COVID-19 is unclear. However, a negative impact of HD on the immune system has been described, and difficulties in swallowing and clearing secretions may have negatively impacted the disease course.