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. 2023 Sep 12;21(1):100.
doi: 10.1186/s12969-023-00873-0.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Dawn M Wahezi  1 , Dominique Jerome  2 , Evin Rothschild  2 , Belina Yi  3 , Jeffrey Dvergsten  4 , Stacey Tarvin  5 , Susan Kim  6 , Tamar Rubinstein  2 ; CARRA JDM workgroup
Affiliations

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Dawn M Wahezi et al. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. .

Abstract

Background: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been concerns regarding the risks of infection in patients with autoimmune disease. In this study, we investigated the impact of the pandemic on patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIM).

Methods: Data were collected using a patient/caregiver survey via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Eligibility included JIIM diagnosis and current age less than 21 years old. Surveys were distributed via the CureJM organization, social media, Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) network and Dr. Peter Dent Pediatric Rheumatology Bulletin Board.

Results: Eighty-four respondents accessed the survey, 70 (83%) consented to participate, and 54 out of 70 completed the full survey (77%). Twenty-seven out of 57 patients (47%) tested positive for COVID-19, with 7 (12%) testing positive more than once. Despite broad usage of immunosuppressive medications, 24 out of 27 (89%) reported mild symptoms with none requiring hospitalization. Four patients reported a flare of JIIM symptoms after COVID-19; three of whom held immunomodulatory medications during their infection. Thirty-seven out of 54 respondents (69%) reported vaccination against COVID-19, with 9 out of 37 (24%) reporting minor vaccine side effects and one reporting JIIM flare post vaccination. Twenty-one out of 54 (39%) respondents reported psychosocial concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions: Patients with JIIM, including those on multiple immunosuppressive medications, had mild symptoms related to COVID-19. Most patients tolerated COVID-19 vaccination well. Few patients had disease flare post-COVID-19 or vaccination. Mental health concerns were demonstrated in JIIM patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies; Pediatric rheumatology.

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Conflict of interest statement

N/A.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Twenty-four patients out of 27 who tested positive for COVID-19 reported acute COVID-19 symptoms. Total 108 symptoms were reported (b) Global assessment scale (GAS) for JIIM disease activity reported by participants pre- and post-COVID-19 (n = 25)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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