Patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases remain at risk for hospitalisation for COVID-19 infection in the Omicron era (2022–2024): a retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Some patients with SARDs remain at higher risk of severe COVID-19 in the Omicron era.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with confirmed systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) and COVID-19 (positive PCR and/or antigen test), Omicron era (1 September 2022 to 15 March 2024), Mass General Brigham healthcare system75% female, mean age 62.2 years
- Participants
- 2,061 patients
- Exposure
- Baseline characteristics and odds of hospitalisation due to COVID-19 in patients with SARDs
- Outcome
- Hospitalisation due to COVID-19 infection, verified by medical record review
Methodological detailsmultivariable logistic regression
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hospitalisation due to COVID-19
- Hospitalised due to COVID-19
- 134 (6.5%)
- Older age (aOR per year)
- 1.05
- Black race vs White race (aOR)
- 4.15
- Ever smoking vs never (aOR)
- 1.76
- CD20 inhibitor use vs antimalarial monotherapy (aOR)
- 2.22
- GC use vs non-use (aOR)
- 2.07
- Female sex vs male (aOR)
- 0.63
- Booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccination vs initial series (aOR)
- 0.49
- Vaccination within 3 months prior to infection vs none within 12 months (aOR)
- 0.41
- Vaccination 3-6 months prior to infection vs none within 12 months (aOR)
- 0.38
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Among those hospitalised
- Hospitalised mostly due to respiratory symptoms
- 84, 63%
- Required mechanical ventilation
- 11 (8%)
- Died
- 20 (15%)
Original publication
Patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases remain at risk for hospitalisation for COVID-19 infection in the Omicron era (2022–2024): a retrospective cohort study. RMD Open. Published 5 March 2025. doi:10.
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