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The following is a summary of “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 in Adults With Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases,” published in the September 2024 issue of Rheumatology by Teles et al. 

The incidence and manifestations of post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (PASC) in individuals with immunosuppressed conditions still need to be more adequately characterized.  

Researchers conducted a prospective study to report, phenotype, and assess risk factors for PASC in adults with systemic autoimmune diseases.  

They recruited adults aged 18 and older with systemic autoimmune diseases for a national, observational cohort study on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection (December 2020 to April 2021). Serial surveys monitored vaccination status, SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, and disease flares. Participants who reported SARS-CoV-2 infections completed a questionnaire about symptom duration, severity, and QoL effects; PASC was defined as experiencing at least 1 symptom lasting more than 12 weeks. The PASC syndromes were categorized by overlapping symptom domains, and characteristics were compared between those who reported PASC and those who did not.  

The results showed 1,615 participants, 590 (36.5%) reported SARS-CoV-2 infection and were sent PASC surveys, with 299 (50.7%) responding more than 12 weeks after their reported infection. Respondents were predominantly female (91.6%) and White (91.2%), with a median age of 48 years (IQR: 40-60) and a median of 3 vaccine doses (IQR: 2-3) at the time of their first infection. Common diagnoses included inflammatory arthritis (38.5%) and inflammatory bowel disease (14.4%). Of the 299 respondents, 89 (29.8%) reported PASC, with the most frequently reported symptom domain being neurological/psychological (83.1%), 84% noted an impact on QOL. Participants with PASC had received fewer vaccines before infection (median [IQR] 2 [2-3] vs. 3 [2-3]; P<0.001) and experienced more reinfections (16.9% vs. 5.7%; P=0.004).  

They concluded that in a large group of people with systemic autoimmune diseases, nearly 30% experienced PASC, which often negatively impacted the QoL. 

Source: jrheum.org/content/51/9/928