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.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, multiple sclerosis, Iran, 【초록키워드】 pandemic, COVID-19 severity, MRI, Prevalence, COVID-19 infection, Dyspnea, female, Patient, age, Hospital admission, multicenter, COVID-19 symptoms, change, Admission, patients, CD20, association, Altered mental status, steroid, death rate, increased risk, severe COVID-19 symptoms, Result, resulting, carried, addition, form, nine, was performed, hospitalized patient, changed, eligible patient, expired, patients with COVID-19, relapsing, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 in patient,