COVID-19 and autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic since it rapidly spread worldwide. COVID-19 has various manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening conditions. During the pandemic, patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) were included in the population at risk. In addition, the use of immunosuppressants or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) was considered to increase the susceptibility to infection. Studies have reported that COVID-19 and ARD have similarities in their clinical findings and immune responses. This study aims to understand the profile of patients with ARD infected with COVID-19 at Dr. Soetomo Hospital in 2020–2022.