Background/Purpose: COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for individuals with rheumatic diseases, yet data are limited regarding vaccine safety in this population, particularly among those with rare autoimmune conditions such as systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). The purpose of this cross-sectional, observational study was to evaluate the self-reported experiences of individuals with SSc who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: Participants were adults with physician-verified SSc enrolled in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort. SPIN includes 47 international centers and has approximately 1600 active participants. From April 9 to May 15, 2021, participants from the SPIN Cohort were invited by email and popups during regular SPIN Cohort assessments to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine survey, which was conducted in English and French. The survey inquired about whether participants had received the COVID-19 vaccine and their experience with vaccination. Frequencies and means (standard deviation (SD)) are reported. Characteristics are compared between those with and without self-reported adverse reactions using chi-square or t-test. Logistic regression was used to compare likelihood of self-reported adverse reactions by vaccine type.

Results: Among 932 responders, 699 (75%) had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 358 (51%) had also received a second dose. The majority of participants received the Pfizer vaccine (63%). Demographic data are presented in Table 1. Most responders did not make changes to their SSc medications for the first (94%) or second (92%) vaccine dose. Adverse reactions were self-reported in 270 individuals (39%) after the first vaccine dose and 209 individuals (58%) after the second vaccine dose (Table 2). The three most common symptoms after the first and second vaccine dose were sore arm (30% and 45%, respectively), fatigue (23% and 40%, respectively), and muscle aches (9% and 22%, respectively). No serious allergic reactions were reported. Self-reported flares of SSc symptoms were rare after the first (6%) and second vaccine dose (10%), and most common symptoms were fatigue and muscle weakness (Table 2). Those with (vs. without) self-reported adverse reactions (any) to the COVID-19 vaccine were younger (60 vs. 63, p=0.001), more often female (94% vs. 84%, p< 0.001), and more often had a prior history of COVID-19 (10% vs. 5%, p=0.009) (Table 3). Compared to those who received the Pfizer vaccine, the odds of a self-reported adverse reaction were higher for those who received Moderna (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.20, 2.60) or AstraZeneca (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.43, 3.39) vaccines.

Conclusion: The rate and types of self-reported adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine among individuals with SSc were similar to those observed in the general population. Few individuals altered their medication regimen for the vaccine, and self-reported worsening of SSc symptoms was rare.

« Back to ACR Convergence 2021

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/vaccination-against-covid-19-self-reported-experiences-of-patients-with-systemic-sclerosis-in-the-scleroderma-patient-centered-intervention-network-spin-cohort/