I just saw a tweet about the findings from the Covid-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance. I'll paste part of the 'Key Messages' section here as it explains better than I can:
"Due to underlying immune system dysfunction and the common use of immunosuppressants, there is concern about poorer outcomes in [people with rheumatological diseases] and uncertainty about medication management during the pandemic.
What does this study add?
Moderate to high dose glucocorticoids were associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation for COVID-19.
Biologic therapies, NSAIDs and antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine were not associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation for COVID-19.
How might this impact on clinical practice or future developments?
This study demonstrates that most individuals with rheumatological diseases or on immunosuppressive therapies recover from COVID-19, which should provide some reassurance to patients."
Other key points were that DMARDS alone/+Biologics do not seem to increase risk of hospitalisation, and anti-TNF seems to reduce risk of hospitalisation.
Usual disclaimer - I'm no doctor, and this is obviously only one paper, but it was nice to read something that seems to hold a small amount of good news for a change.
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dawkin_S
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Very interesting indeed, thanks for posting! Especially interesting that DMARDs and Biologics don't appear to increase risk, particularly the latter. Got to try and get myself of these damned steroids!
Thank you. I am currently tapering my steroids and it has been so very tough recently. I've been on high doses since 2015. You've just galvanized my resolve to keep tapering and get on as low a dose as possible.
Thank you so much for posting this, it seems 10mg or more of steroids is what put you into that very high risk group. Very good to know and gives people a clear target to work towards.
Interesting and cheering but remember that association is not the same as causation. Smoking is associated with less exercise but one doesn't cause the other
Wow thank you so so much for posting this, its lifted my day.
Been very down n suffering with anxiety now and then on top of it been made redundant. So this news today you have posted is really welcome. I also had read this somewhere else so it's good that this information is out there. Xxxxx
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