Pablos, José L.Abasolo, LydiaÁlvaro-Gracia, José M.Blanco García, Francisco JBlanco, RicardoCastrejón, IsabelFernández-Fernández, DavidFernández-Gutiérrez, BenjamínGalindo-Izquierdo, MaríaGonzález-Gay, Miguel Á.Manrique-Arija, SaraMena Vázquez, NataliaMera-Varela, AntonioRetuerto, MiriamSeijas-López, Álvaro2020-08-062020-08-062020-06-12Pablos JL, Abasolo L, Alvaro-Gracia JM, Blanco FJ, Blanco R, Castrejón I, Fernandez-Fernandez D, Fernandez-Gutierrez B, Galindo-Izquierdo M, Gonzalez-Gay MA, Manrique-Arija S, Mena Vázquez N, Mera Varela A, Retuerto M, Seijas-Lopez A; RIER investigators group. Prevalence of hospital PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases in patients with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Sep;79(9):1170-1173.0003-4967http://hdl.handle.net/2183/26115[Abstract] Background: The susceptibility of patients with rheumatic diseases and the risks or benefits of immunosuppressive therapies for COVID-19 are unknown. Methods: We performed a retrospective study with patients under follow-up in rheumatology departments from seven hospitals in Spain. We matched updated databases of rheumatology patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive PCR tests performed in the hospital to the same reference populations. Rates of PCR+ confirmed COVID-19 were compared among groups. Results: Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases had 1.32-fold higher prevalence of hospital PCR+ COVID-19 than the reference population (0.76% vs 0.58%). Patients with systemic autoimmune or immune-mediated disease (AI/IMID) showed a significant increase, whereas patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) or systemic lupus erythematosus did not. COVID-19 cases in some but not all diagnostic groups had older ages than cases in the reference population. Patients with IA on targeted-synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), but not those on conventional-synthetic DMARDs, had a greater prevalence despite a similar age distribution. Conclusion: Patients with AI/IMID show a variable risk of hospital-diagnosed COVID-19. Interplay of ageing, therapies and disease-specific factors seem to contribute. These data provide a basis to improve preventive recommendations to rheumatic patients and to analyse the specific factors involved in COVID-19 susceptibility.engThis article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.ArthritisAutoimmune diseaseBiological therapyEpidemiologyjournal articleopen access