COVID-19 severity, breakthrough infections and vaccine safety in young individuals with autoimmune diseases : insights from the COVAD study
Alunno, Alessia Carubbi, Francesco Tan, Ai Lyn Sen, Parikshit Cavagna, Lorenzo Joshi, Mrudula Day, Jessica Saha, Sreoshy GutiƩrrez, Carlos Enrique Toro Caballero-Uribe, Carlo Vinicio
Alunno, Alessia
Carubbi, Francesco
Tan, Ai Lyn
Sen, Parikshit
Cavagna, Lorenzo
Joshi, Mrudula
Day, Jessica
Saha, Sreoshy
GutiƩrrez, Carlos Enrique Toro
Caballero-Uribe, Carlo Vinicio
Citations
Altmetric:
Affiliation
University of L'Aquila and San Salvatore Hospital; Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust; University of Leeds; Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; et al.
Other Contributors
Publication date
2024-07-13
Subject
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Notwithstanding the wealth of literature on COVID-19, studies focusing on young adults with autoimmune diseases (AD) are lacking. To determine early (within 7 days) and late (after 7 days) anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related adverse events (AEs), post-vaccine disease flares, COVID-19 severity and breakthrough infections (B-INFs) in young people with rheumatic diseases (RMDs) and non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nr-ADs) compared to healthy controls (HC). Data were captured through the international COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) 1 and 2 questionnaires. Of 20,685 complete responses, we identified 6010 from patients aged 18-35 years (1692 RMD, 400 nrADs, 3918 HC) who received up to 4 vaccine doses. BNT162b2 was the most frequently administered vaccine and prior to vaccination, 7% of people with nrAD were taking immunosuppressants (IS) versus 80% in RMDs. Early mild AEs were more frequent in RMDs (93%) and nr-ADs (92%) compared to HC (85%). The frequency of late mild AEs was < 20% in all groups. Severe AEs were rare. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were similar across all groups, however, RMD patients reported a single episode of infection more frequently than nrADs and HC, while nrADs reported multiple infections more frequently than RMD. Self-reported disease flares were reported by 10% or RMD and 7% of nrAD patients. Our study reinforces the safety of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine also in young people with ADs, but it also highlights that among young individuals the number and clinical picture of SARS-CoV-2 infections is affected more by the type of AD rather than by coexisting IS therapy.
Citation
Alunno A, Carubbi F, Tan AL, Sen P, Cavagna L, Joshi M, Day J, Saha S, GutiƩrrez CET, Caballero-Uribe CV, Distler O, Chinoy H, Aggarwal R, Agarwal V, Gupta L; COVAD Study Group. COVID-19 severity, breakthrough infections and vaccine safety in young individuals with autoimmune diseases: insights from the COVAD study. Rheumatol Int. 2024 Sep;44(9):1725-1731. doi: 10.1007/s00296-024-05654-w. Epub 2024 Jul 13
Type
Article