Factors Associated With an Electronic Health Record–Based Definition of Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
Authors' conclusion
Among patients with rheumatic diseases, following their first COVID-19 infection, we found a decreased risk of PASC over calendar time using an EHR-based definition. Aside from GCs, no specific immunomodulatory medications were associated with increased risk, and risk factors were otherwise similar to those seen in the general population.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with prevalent rheumatic diseases and COVID-19, Mass General Brigham healthcare system (76.37% female, mean age 57.4 years)
- Participants
- 2,459 patients
- Exposure
- Baseline characteristics and PASC risk
- Outcome
- Incident PASC (ICD-10 codes, labs, vital signs, medications ≥30 days after first COVID-19 infection)
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailsElectronic health record (EHR)-based definition of PASC, multivariable Cox regression
- EHR-based definition of PASC
- Multivariable Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PASC risk
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Delta wavevs Early pandemic period
0.63(0.49–0.82)
Omicron eravs Early pandemic period
0.50(0.41–0.62)
GC usevs No use
1.19(1.05–1.34)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Most common incident PASC manifestations
- Cough
- 14.56%
- Dyspnea
- 12.36%
- Constipation
- 11.39%
- Fatigue
- 10.70%
Serious PASC manifestations (rare)
- Acute coronary disease
- 4.43%
- Thromboembolism
- 3.09%
- Hypoxemia
- 3.09%
- Stroke
- 1.75%
- Myocarditis
- 0.12%
Original publication
Factors Associated With an Electronic Health Record–Based Definition of Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease. J Rheumatol. Published 1 March 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →