Lupus & COVID-19: Emerging Research Findings Sebastian Sattui Cortes, MD, MS Medha Barbhaiya, MD, MPH Jillian Rose, PhD, MPH, LCSW Margaret Smith, MBA, MPH, CHES
June 24, 2020
Disclosures HSS educational activities are carried out in a manner that serves the educational component of our mission. As faculty we are committed to providing transparency in any relevant external relationships prior to giving an academic presentation. Dr. Sebastian Sattui: Member of the Clinical Advisory and Scientific Committee of the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19GRA) and NY/NJ Regional Lead. Views presented here do not represent those of the C19-GRA, American College of Rheumatology or the European League Against Rheumatism Dr. Medha Barbhaiya: No relevant disclosures Jillian Rose, PhD: No relevant disclosures Margaret Smith: No relevant disclosures Confidential & Proprietary
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COVID-19 and Rheumatic Diseases Dr. Sebastian Sattui
Agenda COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) Data
C19-GRA, registries, and current numbers Latest analysis SLE and Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) Use of anti-rheumatic medications for COVID-19
HCQ Glucocorticoids (GC) (steroids, e.g., Prednisone) Others
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Data from COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA)
Establishment of C19-GRA Response from global rheumatology community to pandemic
Gap in information Better inform and guide patients March 11, 2020 Twitter call-out >400 members, including patient representatives Multiple countries Supported by >100 organizations
American College of Rheumatology (ACR) European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)
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C19-GRA activities Provider registry: 3,181 cases reported (as of 06/16) Patient survey: 12,499 entries (702 patients with COVID-19) (as of 06/16) Systematic literature reviews
Use of anti-rheumatic drugs for treatment of COVID-19 Viral complications of anti-rheumatic medications Advocacy
Responsible use of HCQ in COVID-19 Drug shortages and impact on patients with lupus and RA Proposals with ACR Confidential & Proprietary
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What is a registry? A collection of patient data Enables the study of many people over a long period of time Data can include information on the person, such as age and sex and related biological specimens, such as blood Useful in examining effects of a disease in a group of people and in generating further research hypotheses Established with patient consent and oversight of a review board
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Data analyzed and published from C19-GRA registry Data include 600 patients from 40 countries Published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, online May 29, 2020
“Characteristics associated with hospitalisation for COVID-19 in people with rheumatic disease: data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry”
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Characteristics of rheumatic disease (RMD)patients in C19-GRA registry
Rheumatic Disease
Other 20%
RA 38%
Rheumatic Disease Activity
High disease activity 20%
Vasculitis 7%
AxSpa 8% PsA 12%
SLE 14%
Minimal/no disease activity 80%
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Characteristics of rheumatic disease (RMD) patients in C19-GRA registry
100 90
Died Men
< 50 years old
Not hospitalized
Women
50 + years old
Hospitalized
Survived
Age
Hospitalized Characteristics
Survival
80
Percent
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Sex
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Characteristics associated with hospitalization in RMD patients Duration of symptoms 2 weeks ≈ general population General risk factors for hospitalization:
Age > 65 years High blood pressure
≈ General population
Lung disease Diabetes Chronic kidney disease
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Characteristics associated with hospitalization in RMD patients
Rheumatoid arthritis Systemic lupus Psoriatic arthritis Spondyloarthritis Vasculitis Other
Not hospitalized N = 323 121 (37%) 37 (11%) 52 (16%) 32 (10%) 15 (5%) 66 (20%)
Hospitalized N = 277 104 (38%) 48 (17%) 22 (8%) 16 (6%) 24 (9%) 63(23%)
No single RMD associated with hospitalization
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Characteristics associated with hospitalization in RMD patients • Glucocorticoids Steroids such as prednisone, prednisolone
• Other medications: NSAIDS, oral anti-rheumatics, e.g., Plaquenil, methotrexate
• TNF-inhibitors:
Moderate dose (>10mg) associated with increased risk of hospitalization
Not associated with increased risk of hospitalization
Decreased risk of hospitalization
e.g., Adalimumab, Etanercept, commonly used in RA
Numbers for other biologic agents such as rituximab, benlysta were too small to analyze Confidential & Proprietary
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C19-GRA analysis of lupus and Plaquenil/HCQ • 80 patients with lupus and COVID-19 infection • No difference in hospitalization between those on Plaquenil and those not • No difference in maximum level of care required (supplemental O2, ICU)
Patients who took HCQ Patients who did as standard care not take HCQ 51 (64%) 29 (36%)
Lupus & COVID-19 patients Hospitalized patients 29 (57%)
16 (55%)
Total Patients 80 45
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Advocacy for patients and rigorous scientific inquiry
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C19-GRA data limitations and next steps Risk of COVID-19 infection in lupus and other RMD patients cannot be assessed from these data
Other ongoing studies (GRA patient registry, HSS cohort) might be better able to do so
A few small studies report either similar or mildly increased risk Continue to collect data
Generate important information Focus analysis on specific rheumatic diseases Continue collaboration with ACR
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Use of Anti-rheumatic Medications for COVID-19
Limitations of therapeutic studies in COVID-19
Lack of control arm
Confounders Rigor and Transparency in research
•To really understand effect of medication, need to assess people not on the medication
•Characteristics or factors that might influence outcomes
•Haste to disseminate results
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ď&#x201A;§ Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) ď&#x201A;§ Medication studies had several limitations
Number of studies
Outcome (objective)
Results
2 studies
Death
No benefit no harm
3 studies
Mechanical ventilation and death
No benefit no harm
1 study
Prevent development of infection
No benefit no harm
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Glucocorticoids (CG) - steroids 14+ studies comparing patients on and off GC Important differences between each of them
Timing of medication Doses Patients groups: demographics and severity/course of illness Mixed results
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RECOVERY Trial of GC Information from press release; full data not yet available
For patients on mechanical ventilation (intubated)
1 death prevented by treating 8 patients
For patients on supplemental oxygen
1 death was prevented by treating 25 patients
For patients not requiring oxygen
No benefit observed
Final study results pending. No evidence that GC prevent worsening or death in patients with mild infection Confidential & Proprietary
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Timing of medical intervention is crucial What is driving the illness: virus or immune system Different “arms” of immune system Clinical symptoms and complications Risks of weakening immune system (other infections)
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Other rheumatic disease medications under study
Tocilizumab
•RA, vasculitis, juvenile arthritis •Interest and limited studies showing some benefit •Larger randomized studies pending
Anakinra
•Juvenile arthritis, Still’s disease •2 studies (limited) showing a benefit in mortality •Larger randomized studies pending
Others
•Eculizumab, mavrilumab, IVIG, baricitinib, type I IFN blockers •Small studies, not definitive Confidential & Proprietary
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https://rheum-covid.org/
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HSS Rheumatology Patients COVID-19 Registry Dr. Medha Barbhaiya
Goals of the HSS registry study Investigate the role of immunomodulatory medication use and systemic rheumatic diseases on COVID-19 incidence and severity
Medications can include Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine, steroids, CellCept, Benlysta, other biologics, methotrexate, others
Evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs)
Lupus, RA, Scleroderma, Vasculitis, others
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Patient data collection survey Secure, web-based survey created Minimum of 54 questions Five questionnaires
1) COVID-19 exposure, symptoms, prevention and treatment 2) Rheumatic disease history and medication modifications 3) General medical history, environmental exposures (e.g., smoking and vaping), pregnancy history
4) Social determinants of health (e.g., food insecurity, employment, socioeconomic status)
5) Patient-Reported Outcomes (e.g., pain, sleep, fatigue, anxiety, depression)
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Qualifying rheumatology patients to participate in registry
Screened medical records of patients seen 4/1/18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4/21/20 Excluded deceased, non-Englishspeaking, and pediatric patients 28,000 patients qualified for registry Confidential & Proprietary
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Inviting patients to participate Data collection period April 24, 2020 – May 26, 2020 Emails
About 26,000 patients emailed 3 emails sent to request completion of survey Telephone calls
About 450 patients without email addresses contacted
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Survey responses
Survey Response
Number of Patients
Percent (%) of total recruited patients
Completion of any part of survey
8,400
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Completion of at least the 7,000 first full questionnaire
27
Completion of entire survey
25
6,500
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Relevant Research Questions What is the risk of developing COVID-19 or having severe COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases and in those taking immunomodulatory medications?
• Lombardy, Italy • N=955 patients (>98% response rate) • Incidence of COVID-19 similar to general population • Arthritis and Rheumatology • Partners Healthcare System (Boston, MA) • Similar proportion of hospitalization and mortality, but higher intensive care admission and mechanical ventilation as general population • Small sample size (N=52) • Annals of Rheumatic Diseases
• Spanish BIOBADASER registry
• Similar risk of hospitalization and mortality as general population • Small sample size (N=41)
• Annals of Rheumatic Diseases
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Other Important Research Questions How were immunomodulatory medications modified by our patients during the COVID19 pandemic?
Are there particular disparities on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with rheumatic diseases?
How were pregnant women with rheumatic diseases affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
What is the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on rheumatology patients?
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Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 on Rheumatology Patients Jillian A. Rose, PhD
People at heightened risk for COVID-19 Older adults Immuno-deficient people People with underlying chronic health conditions
Diabetes High blood pressure Obesity Heart disease People with inflammatory rheumatic conditions
Underlying disease process Medications used to treat their rheumatic disease Confidential & Proprietary
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Disparities in burden of COVID-19 illness and death Death rates in New York City Race/ethnicity Black/African American Hispanic/Latino White Asian
Incidence per 100,000 people 92.3 74.3 45.2 34.5
Health disparities compounded by Socioeconomic factors Environmental conditions Access to care Underlying health conditions Confidential & Proprietary
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Mental health and rheumatic diseases (RD) • Rheumatic illness can profoundly impact psychosocial wellbeing • Clinical depression and anxiety twice as prevalent as in general population
Depression & Anxiety
•Poorer health outcomes •Worse health-related QOL
Social & Peer Support
•Important to improve outcomes •Isolation/loneliness common in RD
COVID-19
•Raises anxiety •Worsens isolation/lowers support Confidential & Proprietary
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HSS Department of Social Work Programs Offers largest number of support and education programs for rheumatic patients and their loved ones in USA
Focus on serving diverse communities nationally and internationally Committed to highest quality of care 2019 programs met needs of 23,000 patients, family and community members
Psychosocial interventions
Support groups
Educational programs
Addressing Health Disparities
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Original research by HSS Social Work informs programming Research shows that sound interventions include the patient’s voice Peer-focused Patient-centered Patient participation
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New HSS research: psychosocial impact of COVID-19 Purpose
How information will be used
Understand psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on rheumatic patient experience
Review and enhance
Self-reported physical health Mental and emotional health Access to health care and other social
Medical care and research Mental health care and interventions Support and education programs New and future programming
services
Support and education needs
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New HSS research: psychosocial impact of COVID-19 How can you help?
Who do you talk to for questions?
If you are diagnosed with a rheumatic condition and are at least 18 years of age, you can participate in this 15 – 20 minute survey.
For questions or more information, please contact
Anonymous Confidential
Jillian Rose, PhD, MPH, LCSW at rosej@hss.edu or 646.714.6673
Melissa Flores, MPH, LCSW at
floresme@hss.edu or 646.797.8934
Voluntary Results will be shared in aggregate
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