Outcomes of Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases in Latvia

Abstract

Abstract The retrospective study for rheumatic disease patients was conducted between 27 December 2020 and 31 August 2021 at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, in the largest centre of Rheumatology in Latvia with the aim of assessing the impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 for rheumatic disease patients. From the hospital’s local medical electronic system, we collected demographic data, disease activity, comorbidities, data regarding vaccines and their side effects for 422 rheumatic disease patients. Most of them, 377 (89.3%), had inflammatory arthritis or a rare rheumatic disease and the most common disease was rheumatoid arthritis 30.1%; 26.5% of all patients were in remission. csDMARDs (conventional synthetic disease modified antirheumatic drugs) were used in 47.2%, biological DMARDs in 51%, and immunosuppressive medicines in 4.2% cases. The most commonly used vaccine was BNT162b2, for 49.05% patients. The main side effect after vaccination was pain in the injection site, for 16.1% patients. 36.7% of patients had no side effects after vaccination. 8.7% of patients had a flare of disease after the vaccination process. The most common comorbidity was cardiovascular diseases, for 38.7% of patients. Mild side effects, and a small percentage of flare-up of a rheumatic disease demonstrated the safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in the rheumatic disease patient group.