Caucasian ethnicity and fibromyalgia are associated with the development of Long-COVID in patients with rheumatic diseases and SARS-CoV-2 infection: Data from the SAR-COVID registry

Autores: Carolina Ayelen Isnardi, Micaela Cosatti, Carlos González Gómez, María Agustina Alfaro, Belén María Virasoro, Gimena Gómez, María Eugenia D’ Angelo, Verónica Saurit, Ingrid Petkovic, Rosana Quintana, Yohana Tissera, Guillermo Berbotto, María Jezabel Haye Salinas, Sofía Ornella, Mariana Pera, Álvaro Andrés Reyes Torres, Roberto Miguel Báez, Dora Pereira, Gelsomina Alle, Vanessa Castro Coello, Paula Alba, Karina Cogo, Carla Gimena Alonso, Carla Gobbi, Josefina Gallino Yanzi, María Julieta Gamba, Romina Nieto, Edson Velozo, Romina Tanten, María de los Ángeles Correa, Guillermo Pons-Estel, Cecilia Pisoni

HTML PDF

Introduction:
The persistence of symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection is a significant complication.

Objectives:
To describe the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) and to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of Long-COVID syndrome (LCS).

Material and methods:
Observational, prospective study including patients with RD and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between August 2020 and June 2023. LCS was defined as symptom persistence for >28 days.

Results:
A total of 2707 patients were included; 94% had symptomatic acute COVID-19. During the acute phase, 109 patients (4.0%) died; 512 (18.9%) developed LCS. The most frequent symptoms in the LCS group were fatigue and dyspnea.

In the multivariate analysis, fibromyalgia (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.62-3.78), receiving treatment for acute COVID-19 (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.19-2.00), and admission to an intensive care unit (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.04-2.30) were associated with a higher risk of developing LCS, whereas mestizo ethnicity had a protective effect (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.92).

Conclusions:
In patients with RD, 2 out of 10 developed LCS. A prior diagnosis of fibromyalgia and greater acute COVID-19 severity were associated with higher odds of LCS, while mestizo ethnicity showed the contrary effect.