COVID-19

July 29, 2021

Common immunosuppressant therapies for patients with rheumatic disease, such as methotrexate and targeted biologics, increase risk of serious infection, especially with respiratory pathogens. A recent study investigates the connection between these drugs and functional humoral immunity to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech).

July 15, 2021

In this observational cross-sectional study, investigators created a survey designed to understand the management and follow-up of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin American countries.

July 14, 2021

Research indicates that patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD) did not differ from the general population in terms of protective antibody responses against COVID-19.

July 08, 2021

Irene Kazmers, MD, discusses the heavy administrative burden placed on all practicing physicians in the last decade and why she chose to begin concierge, or membership medicine, a practice model that has "proven to be a tremendous fit for my career at this point in time and made it possible for me to continue as a practicing rheumatologist."

July 07, 2021

Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases had an increased risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and worse clinical outcomes of COVID-19, including death, although disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) did not increase the risk of these outcomes.

June 23, 2021

An SMS-based, interactive, educational video greatly increased information related to COVID-19 vaccines, confidence in vaccine safety, and an inclination to receive the vaccine.

May 11, 2021

Bryant England, MD, PhD, discusses his study, "Risk of COVID‐19 in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A National Veterans Affairs Matched Cohort Study in At‐Risk Individuals." Investigators found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not only at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19, they are more likely to have severe outcomes, such as hospitalization and death, when compared with the general population.

May 04, 2021

Poorer results were associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES) and not being able to access telehealth, which emphasizes the need for access to healthcare and attention to vulnerable populations, such as those with rheumatic diseases, during the pandemic.

May 03, 2021

A UK-based study indicated that patients with RA were more likely to have severe COVID-19 outcomes, including death. However, patients with gout did not appear to have an increased risk.

April 30, 2021

The SPIN-CHAT Program was developed by investigators in order to help participants deal with isolation and learn better mental health coping mechanisms.