COVID-۱۹ and its Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: Coronavirus Disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) is a highly contagious disease that resulted in ۴۵۳۳۶۴۵ deaths until September first, ۲۰۲۱. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients receive immunosuppressive drugs. Thus, there is a concern that these drugs will reduce the patient’s immune system resistance against COVID۱۹. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of COVID۱۹ and its impact on MS patients in our university hospital in Tehran City, Iran. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on hospital-based registry data from May ۲۰۲۰ to March ۲۰۲۱. Among more than ۵۰۰ registered MS patients in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, referring within our study period, ۸۴ patients reported SARS-COV۲ infection. The diagnosis of MS was confirmed by the McDonald criteria. Moreover, the diagnosis of COVID-۱۹ in MS patients was established by the real-time-PCR technique and chest computed tomography. Results: Out of ۸۴ MS patients with SARS-COV۲ infection, ۵۵(۶۵.۵%) were women, and their mean age was ۳۷.۴۸ years. The most commonly used medications by MS patients were Rituximab ۲۰ (۲۶.۳%) and Dimethyl Fumarate ۱۴(۱۸.۴%). Totally, ۹(۱۰.۸%) of the patients needed to be hospitalized due to COVID-۱۹, with a mean hospitalization duration of ۵.۸۸ days. A total of ۱ (۱.۲%) death was reported. Conclusion: Compared to the healthy population, COVID-۱۹ is not more serious in MS patients. Most MS patients with COVID-۱۹ infection were not hospitalized and continued their medication during the infection.

Keywords:

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) , Coronavirus Disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) , Epidemiology