The following is a summary of “Analysis of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with hereditary angioedema type I and type II,” published in the November 2023 issue of Infectious Disease by Szilágyi et al.

Amid concerns regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) and vice versa, the study sought to assess its influence on the quality of life (QoL) among Hungarian C1-INH-HAE patients. Researchers aimed to explore this patient cohort’s acute course of COVID-19 infection, post-COVID symptoms (PCS), vaccination trends, and vaccine-related adverse effects. Between July 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, a questionnaire was completed by 93 patients. Comparatively, from March 2019 to March 2020, 63 patients completed the angioedema quality of life questionnaire (AE-QoL). Among the patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 (18/93 patients; 19%), 5% required hospitalization, 28% experienced HAE attacks during the acute COVID-19 infection, and 44% reported PCS. A total of 142 vaccine doses were administered, with no instances of severe vaccine reactions. Four (5%) out of 73 vaccinated patients experienced HAE attacks. 

Analysis showed no significant difference (p = 0.59) in the median AE-QoL total score or the frequency of HAE attacks before and during the pandemic. Their findings suggest that HAE patients did not exhibit more severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, and COVID-19 did not exacerbate the course of HAE. Notably, changes in QoL were not statistically significant, and vaccinations proved safe for individuals with HAE.

Source: nature.com/articles/s41598-023-47307-1