Characteristics of Covid-19 in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Publisher Pubmed



Ghadiri F¹ ; Sahraian MA¹ ; Shaygannejad V² ; Ashtari F² ; Ghalyanchi H³ ; Baghbanian SM⁴ ; Mojdehipanah H⁵ ; Majdinasab N⁶ ; Hosseini S⁷ ; Poursadeghfard M⁸ ; Beladimoghadam N⁹ ; Razazian N¹⁰ ; Ayoubi S¹ ; Rezaeimanesh N¹ Show All Authors
Source: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Published:2022

Abstract

Background: Regarding the high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and COVID-19 in Iran, a multicenter study of COVID-19 in Iranian MS patients with is carried out to address the concerns of this population. Methods: Data on MS patients with COVID-19 from nine provinces of Iran were entered in a web-based registry system, between July 2020 and March 2021. Among the COVID-19 symptoms, dyspnea, altered mental status, or those resulting in hospital admission were considered severe. Results: A total of 397 eligible patients were identified. In addition, 310 (78%) were female. The mean age was 36.5 ± 9.5. 294 (74%) patients had relapsing- remitting form. Also, four patients (1%) expired due to COVID-19 infection. The mean duration of admission in hospitalized patients was 9 (± 5.3) days. MRI was performed on 111 (28%) patients after developing COVID-19. MRI changes were observed in 27 (24%) of these cases. MS drug was changed in 26 (6%) patients. Steroid use in the past three months (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.003–5.88) (p value: 0.049) and antiCD20s (OR: 4.03, 95% CI: 2.41–6.68) (p value < 0.001) showed significant association with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusion: The death rate of COVID-19 among MS patients (1%) is lower than the overall death rate of the pandemic in Iran (3%). Those who received steroid in the past three months may be at increased risk of more severe forms of COVID-19. There are still doubts about the effect of anti CD20s on COVID-19 severity. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.