COVID-19 in Rheumatic Patients and Their Families
Author Information
Author(s): Fan Yihua, Wang Yiwen, Du Juanli, Wu Rui, Li Jianbin, Xiao Changhong, Li Qing, Zhou Mi, Liu Ying, Zhang Di, Wang Bei, Li Songwei, Zhao Zhina, Lyu Xinliang, Wu Yuanhao, Liu Yan, Ning Xiaomei, Li Zhiteng, Yu Shujiao, Chen Ensheng, Zhu Guangzhao, Zhao Yuxing, Liu Juan, Liu Yuquan, He Dongyi, Liu Wei
Primary Institution: First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hypothesis
Are there differences in clinical features and prognosis between patients with rheumatic diseases and their family members after infection with COVID-19?
Conclusion
Patients with rheumatic diseases had milder symptoms after COVID-19 infection compared to their family members, likely due to the use of certain medications.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with rheumatic diseases had a complete recovery time of 13 days compared to 16 days for family members.
- The risk of developing moderate to severe COVID-19 was lower in patients with rheumatic diseases (OR=0.511).
- Pre-infection use of NSAIDs increased the risk of mild COVID-19 cases (OR=0.595).
- Use of glucocorticoids and Chinese herbal decoctions before infection increased the probability of developing mild cases (OR=1.537, 1.773).
- Patients with mild rheumatism had a shorter recovery time from COVID-19 by an average of 4.178 days.
Takeaway
People with rheumatic diseases got less sick from COVID-19 than their family members, possibly because of the medicines they take.
Methodology
A retrospective study analyzing clinical symptoms and prognostic factors in 13 hospitals in China.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of critical cases and racial bias from only including patients in China.
Limitations
The study mainly included patients from outpatient and inpatient departments, which may not represent all COVID-19 patients.
Participant Demographics
1530 patients with rheumatic diseases (82.1% female, median age 46) and 1359 family members (49.4% female, median age 44).
Statistical Information
P-Value
P<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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