Session Information
Session Type: Poster Session A
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose: Existing studies have shown that disease activity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may surge after COVID-19 infection. However, factors associated with disease flares remain unknown. This study aimed to identify factors associated with breakthrough infection and disease flares in patients with RA following COVID-19 infection.
Methods: We selected patients with RA from an online e-survey data from the COVAD study. Demographic data, patient reported outcomes, comorbidities and pharmacologic treatments were extracted from the database. Disease flare-up was derived from the e-survey database. Factors associated with disease flare-up were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Results: In total, 1928 patients with RA were extracted from the COVAD database. Older age, Caucasian ethnicity, comorbidities with chronic kidney disease and asthma, were associated with COVID-19 breakthrough infection. Moreover, younger age (odds ratio, OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96 – 0.99, p< 0.001), ethnicity other than Asian, tuberculosis (OR: 3.80, 95% CI: 1.12 – 12.94, p=0.033), treatment with methotrexate (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.56 – 4.17, p< 0.001), poor global physical health (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00 –1.15, p=0.044) and mental health (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87 –0.95, p< 0.001) were independent factors associated with disease flares in patients with RA.
Conclusion: Our study highlights the necessity for rheumatologists to recognize potential predictors of RA flare-up following COVID-19 infection. Proactive strategies are recommended for managing high-risk RA patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Chen Y, Chen J, Tseng C, TORO GUTIERREZ C, Nikiphorou E, Tan A, Nune A, Kadam E, Kuwana M, Day J, Saha S, Velikova T, Lilleker J, CABALLERO C, Sen P, Chinoy H, Aggarwal R, Agarwal V, Gupta L. Breakthrough SARS-Cov-2 Infection and Disease Flares in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Result from COVAD E-Survey Study [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023; 75 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/breakthrough-sars-cov-2-infection-and-disease-flares-in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis-result-from-covad-e-survey-study/. Accessed .« Back to ACR Convergence 2023
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/breakthrough-sars-cov-2-infection-and-disease-flares-in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis-result-from-covad-e-survey-study/