Race/ethnicity association with COVID‐19 outcomes in rheumatic disease: Data from the COVID‐19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Physician Registry

• Published in: Arthritis & Rheumatology 2020
• Main Authors: Gianfrancesco, Milena A, Leykina, Liza A, Izadi, Zara, Taylor, Tiffany, Sparks, Jeffrey A, Harrison, Carly, Trupin, Laura, Rush, Stephanie, Schmajuk, Gabriela, Katz, Patricia, Jacobsohn, Lindsay, Hsu, Tiffany Y, D'Silva, Kristin M, Naomi Serling‐Boyd, Wallwork, Rachel, Todd, Derrick J, Bhana, Suleman, Costello, Wendy, Grainger, Rebecca, Hausmann, Jonathan S, Liew, Jean W, Sirotich, Emily, Sufka, Paul, Wallace, Zachary S, Machado, Pedro M, Robinson, Philip C, Yazdany, Jinoos
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• DOI: 10.1002/art.41567

Objective Racial/ethnic minorities experience more severe outcomes of COVID‐19 in the general United States (US) population. The aim of this study was to examine the association between race/ethnicity and COVID‐19 hospitalization, ventilation status, and mortality in people with rheumatic disease. Methods US patients with rheumatic disease and COVID‐19 entered into the COVID‐19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician registry March 24 – August 26, 2020 were included. Race/ethnicity was defined as white, Black, Latinx, Asian and other/mixed race. Outcomes included hospitalization, requirement for ventilatory support, and death. Multivariable regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals controlling for age, sex, smoking, rheumatic disease diagnosis, comorbidities, medications taken prior to infection, and rheumatic disease activity. Results A total of 1,324 patients were included, of whom 36% were hospitalized and 6% died; 26% of hospitalized patients required mechanical ventilation. In multivariable models, Black (OR=2.74, 95% CI 1.90, 3.95), Latinx (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.18, 2.49), and Asian (OR=2.69, 95% CI 1.16, 6.24) patients had higher odds of being hospitalized compared to white patients. Latinx patients also had three‐fold increased odds of requiring ventilatory support (OR=3.25, 95% CI 1.75, 6.05). No differences in mortality based on race/ethnicity were found, though power may have been limited to detect associations. Conclusion Similar to findings in the general US population, racial/ethnic minorities with rheumatic disease and COVID‐19 had increased odds of hospitalization and ventilatory support. These results illustrate significant health disparities related to COVID‐19 in people with rheumatic diseases. The rheumatology community should proactively address the needs of patients currently experiencing inequitable health outcomes during the pandemic.