Background : The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major current concern, in particular the risk of death. Here we describe the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 infections (Mar 2020-July 2020) on the Scottish MS Register (SMSR) population, a cohort of 4702 individuals with MS, all newly diagnosed in the past decade. Methods : We established a clinician alert system, linking the SMSR with the Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS). This allows identification of patients within this cohort who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. The SMSR was also linked to death records from National Records Scotland. Results : Of 4702 people with MS, 246 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR tests were performed, of which 17 were positive. The proportion of positive tests were similar to the general Scotland population (Observed PCR confirmed cases = 17, expected = 17.5, O/E = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.60 – 1.56, p =.90). Between 1 st March – 31 st July 2020 12 individuals on the SMSR died, 5 of which were linked to COVID-19 (1 PCR confirmed, 4 clinical diagnoses without PCR confirmation). This number of COVID-19-related deaths was higher than expected (observed deaths = 5, expected deaths = 1.2, O/E = 4.03, 95% CI = 1.48 – 8.94, p =.01). All COVID-19-related deaths in the SMSR occurred in individuals with advanced disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale ≥7), and no deaths occurred in patients receiving disease modifying therapy (DMT) therapies. Conclusion : In this nationally comprehensive cohort of MS patients diagnosed in Scotland within the past 10 years, we observed similar rates of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general Scottish population, but a small number of excess COVID-19 related deaths. These deaths occurred in individuals with advanced disability who were not receiving DMTs.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Mortality, multiple sclerosis, MS, Scotland, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, coronavirus, pandemic, therapy, communication, SARS-COV-2 infection, Cohort, PCR, COVID-19 infection, Patient, death, disability, scale, PCR test, disease, First wave, Therapies, deaths, confirmed case, risk of death, acute respiratory syndrome, 95% CI, PCR-confirmed, clinician, status, individual, Positive test, COVID-19-related death, Record, positive, positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR, Result, performed, occurred, died, proportion, diagnosed, receiving, expected, clinical diagnose, ECOSS, Observed, Scottish, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, Impact, Multiple, sclerosis, Scottish,