Factors associated with COVID-19-related death in people with rheumatic diseases: results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry.
Anja StrangfeldMartin SchäferMilena A GianfrancescoSaskia Lawson-ToveyJean W LiewLotta LjungElsa F MateusChristophe RichezMaria Jose SantosGabriela SchmajukAnd Carlo Alberto ScirèEmily SirotichJeffrey A SparksPaul SufkaThierry ThomasLaura TrupinZachary S WallaceSarah Al-AdelyJavier Bachiller-CorralSuleman BhanaPatrice CacoubLoreto CarmonaRuth E CostelloWendy CostelloLaure GossecRebecca GraingerEric HachullaRebecca HasseliJonathan S HausmannKimmie L HyrichZara IzadiLindsay JacobsohnPatricia KatzLianne Kearsley-FleetPhilip C RobinsonJinoos YazdanyPedro M Machadonull nullPublished in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2021)
Among people with rheumatic disease, COVID-19-related death was associated with known general factors (older age, male sex and specific comorbidities) and disease-specific factors (disease activity and specific medications). The association with moderate/high disease activity highlights the importance of adequate disease control with DMARDs, preferably without increasing glucocorticoid dosages. Caution may be required with rituximab, sulfasalazine and some immunosuppressants.