Impact of a pre-existing interstitial lung disease on severity of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

Juge, P. A.; Hachulla, E.; Richez, C.; Drumez, E.; Duhamel, A.; Borie, R.; Dieudé, P.

Background: COVID19 due to SARS-CoV-2 infection implies an important anti-viral immune response leading to a major inflammatory syndrome with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (i.e. the cytokine storm paradigm). The impact of a preexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD) on the morbi-mortality of COVID-19 is unclear. An increased mortality rate has been identified in studies that included a limited number of patients with ILD from various etiologies. To date, no studies have investigated the severity of COVID-19 in patients with preexisting ILD in a large population of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD-ILD). Since March 18th, 2020, the French RMD COVID19 dataset (NCT04353609) includes patients with an RMD and SARS-Cov-2 infection. Objectives: To assess the impact of a preexisting ILD on COVID-19 morbi-mortality within the French RMD COVID-19 dataset. Methods: Patients from the French RMD COVID-19 dataset were included in the analysis. COVID-19 diagnosis was established by a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and/or typical symptoms or chest CT scans pattern during the period of the pandemic. Baseline phenotypic characteristics of the RMD including pre-existing ILD prior to the SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected. COVID-19 evolution was characterized as benign (ambulatory care), moderate (hospitalization outside intensive care unit [ICU]) and severe (hospitalization in ICU). Association between the ILD status and the severity and mortality rate of COVID-19 was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted on sex, age, body mass index and diabetes. Results: By June 26, 2020, 897 patients were included. Pre-existing ILD was reported in 27 patients (3%): 11 patients with systemic sclerosis, 8 with rheumatoid arthritis, 2 with auto-immune myositis, 2 with mixed connective tissue disease and 4 with other RMD. Among these 27 patients (11 male, mean age 63.1 ± 16.4 y/o, 56.5% having a usual interstitial pneumonia HRCT pattern), 22 had severe infection. Death related to COVID-19, was observed in 58 patients with RMD without ILD (7.1%) and in 10 patients with RMD-ILD (37%). Having a preexisting ILD was found to be independently associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 (adjusted OR=7.6 [2.9 -20.2], P<0.001) and an increased mortality rate (adjusted OR=12.3 [3.8 -39.2], P<0.001). Conclusion: In RMD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, preexisting ILD was associated with an increased risk to severe COVID-19 and related mortality. Our findings suggest that RMD-ILD patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination according to the high morbi-mortality rate during SARS-CoV-2 infection.