The impact of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from a single center in Catalonia

Objective To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to compare it to that described in the general population. Methods For 5 weeks, we carried out a cross-sectional study consisting of telephone interviews of SLE patients. We collected epidemiological data, symptoms suggesting COVID-19, results of nasopharyngeal swabs, and ongoing treatments. In those patients who required hospital admission, clinical, radiological, and laboratory features, and outcome were investigated. Results Four hundred patients with SLE completed the survey. Overall, 4 (1.00%, 95%CI 0.02–1.98) patients were classified as confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 26 (6.51%, 95%CI 4.08–8.94) as possible clinical cases. The incidence of confirmed cases in our series was similar to that of the Catalan population (1.00% versus 0.63%; p = 0.456), whereas the incidence of possible cases was higher in our series (6.51% versus 1.29%; p < 0.005). The only difference between SLE patients with confirmed and possible COVID-19 and those without was the percentage of patients who have had contact with a confirmed or possible case of COVID-19 (26.7% versus 9.2%; p = 0.003) Conclusions The incidence of COVID-19 in SLE patients with inactive disease is low and, in our series, all cases with confirmed infection recovered. Key Points • In a cohort of SLE patients with stable and clinical inactive disease, the incidence of COVID-19 is low. • All SLE patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection recovered.