Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis

Christian Ammitzbøll; Jakob Bøgh Andersen; Signe Risbøl Vils; Clara Elbaek Mistegaard; Susan Mikkelsen; Christian Erikstrup; Marianne Kragh Thomsen; Ellen-Margrethe Hauge; Anne Troldborg

doi:10.1002/acr.24716

Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis

Christian Ammitzbøll^*, Jakob Bøgh Andersen, Signe Risbøl Vils, Clara Elbaek Mistegaard, Susan Mikkelsen, Christian Erikstrup, Marianne Kragh Thomsen, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Anne Troldborg

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: Patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), require special attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as they are considered at risk of severe infections. Our objective was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 in patients with SLE and RA and to assess patient behavior, disease-related symptoms, and mental health. Methods: More than 900 participants were included: 405 patients with RA or SLE (CRD patients) and 513 blood donors. All participants had blood SARS–CoV-2 total antibodies measured (sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 99.5%) and answered a questionnaire concerning behavior, anxiety, and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). The CRD patients were further asked about physical activity, adherence to medication, and disease-related symptoms. Results: CRD patients had a significantly lower seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 antibodies (n = 1 of 365, 0.3%) compared to blood donors (n = 10 of 513, 1.9%; P = 0.03). Almost 60% of patients were unable to exercise as usual, and increased pain and disease activity was experienced by 34% and 24% of patients, respectively. Almost 10% of patients reduced or discontinued their immunosuppressive treatments at their own initiative. Symptoms of moderate depression were present in 19% of patients compared to 6.8% of blood donors (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Low seroprevalence in patients with CRDs indicates successful mitigation of exposure to SARS–CoV-2. However, this mitigation appears to occur at the expense of physical activity, experience of increased pain, disease activity, and symptoms of depression. There is a need for care providers to be aware of these negative side effects and for further studies to investigate the possible long-term consequences.

Original language	English
Journal	Arthritis Care & Research
Volume	74
Issue	11
Pages (from-to)	1780-1785
Number of pages	6
ISSN	2151-464X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24716
Publication status	Published - Nov 2022

Keywords

Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis
COVID-19/epidemiology
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis
Pain
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Seroepidemiologic Studies

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10.1002/acr.24716

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8212085/pdf/ACR-9999-0.pdf

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Ammitzbøll, C., Andersen, J. B., Vils, S. R., Mistegaard, C. E., Mikkelsen, S., Erikstrup, C., Thomsen, M. K., Hauge, E.-M., & Troldborg, A. (2022). Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care & Research, 74(11), 1780-1785. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24716

@article{2fa2272a9f6248efb4d1702a5d339bbd,

title = "Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis",

abstract = "Objective: Patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), require special attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as they are considered at risk of severe infections. Our objective was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 in patients with SLE and RA and to assess patient behavior, disease-related symptoms, and mental health. Methods: More than 900 participants were included: 405 patients with RA or SLE (CRD patients) and 513 blood donors. All participants had blood SARS–CoV-2 total antibodies measured (sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 99.5%) and answered a questionnaire concerning behavior, anxiety, and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). The CRD patients were further asked about physical activity, adherence to medication, and disease-related symptoms. Results: CRD patients had a significantly lower seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 antibodies (n = 1 of 365, 0.3%) compared to blood donors (n = 10 of 513, 1.9%; P = 0.03). Almost 60% of patients were unable to exercise as usual, and increased pain and disease activity was experienced by 34% and 24% of patients, respectively. Almost 10% of patients reduced or discontinued their immunosuppressive treatments at their own initiative. Symptoms of moderate depression were present in 19% of patients compared to 6.8% of blood donors (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Low seroprevalence in patients with CRDs indicates successful mitigation of exposure to SARS–CoV-2. However, this mitigation appears to occur at the expense of physical activity, experience of increased pain, disease activity, and symptoms of depression. There is a need for care providers to be aware of these negative side effects and for further studies to investigate the possible long-term consequences.",

keywords = "Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis, COVID-19/epidemiology, Humans, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis, Pain, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2, Seroepidemiologic Studies",

author = "Christian Ammitzb{\o}ll and Andersen, {Jakob B{\o}gh} and Vils, {Signe Risb{\o}l} and Mistegaard, {Clara Elbaek} and Susan Mikkelsen and Christian Erikstrup and Thomsen, {Marianne Kragh} and Ellen-Margrethe Hauge and Anne Troldborg",

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doi = "10.1002/acr.24716",

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Ammitzbøll, C, Andersen, JB, Vils, SR, Mistegaard, CE , Mikkelsen, S , Erikstrup, C, Thomsen, MK, Hauge, E-M & Troldborg, A 2022, 'Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis', Arthritis Care & Research, vol. 74, no. 11, pp. 1780-1785. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24716

Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis. / Ammitzbøll, Christian; Andersen, Jakob Bøgh; Vils, Signe Risbøl et al.
In: Arthritis Care & Research, Vol. 74, No. 11, 11.2022, p. 1780-1785.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis

AU - Ammitzbøll, Christian

AU - Andersen, Jakob Bøgh

AU - Vils, Signe Risbøl

AU - Mistegaard, Clara Elbaek

AU - Mikkelsen, Susan

AU - Erikstrup, Christian

AU - Thomsen, Marianne Kragh

AU - Hauge, Ellen-Margrethe

AU - Troldborg, Anne

PY - 2022/11

Y1 - 2022/11

N2 - Objective: Patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), require special attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as they are considered at risk of severe infections. Our objective was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 in patients with SLE and RA and to assess patient behavior, disease-related symptoms, and mental health. Methods: More than 900 participants were included: 405 patients with RA or SLE (CRD patients) and 513 blood donors. All participants had blood SARS–CoV-2 total antibodies measured (sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 99.5%) and answered a questionnaire concerning behavior, anxiety, and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). The CRD patients were further asked about physical activity, adherence to medication, and disease-related symptoms. Results: CRD patients had a significantly lower seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 antibodies (n = 1 of 365, 0.3%) compared to blood donors (n = 10 of 513, 1.9%; P = 0.03). Almost 60% of patients were unable to exercise as usual, and increased pain and disease activity was experienced by 34% and 24% of patients, respectively. Almost 10% of patients reduced or discontinued their immunosuppressive treatments at their own initiative. Symptoms of moderate depression were present in 19% of patients compared to 6.8% of blood donors (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Low seroprevalence in patients with CRDs indicates successful mitigation of exposure to SARS–CoV-2. However, this mitigation appears to occur at the expense of physical activity, experience of increased pain, disease activity, and symptoms of depression. There is a need for care providers to be aware of these negative side effects and for further studies to investigate the possible long-term consequences.

AB - Objective: Patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), require special attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as they are considered at risk of severe infections. Our objective was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 in patients with SLE and RA and to assess patient behavior, disease-related symptoms, and mental health. Methods: More than 900 participants were included: 405 patients with RA or SLE (CRD patients) and 513 blood donors. All participants had blood SARS–CoV-2 total antibodies measured (sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 99.5%) and answered a questionnaire concerning behavior, anxiety, and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). The CRD patients were further asked about physical activity, adherence to medication, and disease-related symptoms. Results: CRD patients had a significantly lower seroprevalence of SARS–CoV-2 antibodies (n = 1 of 365, 0.3%) compared to blood donors (n = 10 of 513, 1.9%; P = 0.03). Almost 60% of patients were unable to exercise as usual, and increased pain and disease activity was experienced by 34% and 24% of patients, respectively. Almost 10% of patients reduced or discontinued their immunosuppressive treatments at their own initiative. Symptoms of moderate depression were present in 19% of patients compared to 6.8% of blood donors (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Low seroprevalence in patients with CRDs indicates successful mitigation of exposure to SARS–CoV-2. However, this mitigation appears to occur at the expense of physical activity, experience of increased pain, disease activity, and symptoms of depression. There is a need for care providers to be aware of these negative side effects and for further studies to investigate the possible long-term consequences.

KW - Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis

KW - Pain

KW - Pandemics

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies

U2 - 10.1002/acr.24716

DO - 10.1002/acr.24716

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34057311

SN - 2151-464X

VL - 74

SP - 1780

EP - 1785

JO - Arthritis Care & Research

JF - Arthritis Care & Research

IS - 11

ER -

Isolation, behavioral changes and low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Keywords

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