Investigating the rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality among patients with multiple sclerosis (PP-01)

Background:  COVID-19 has rapidly become a major public health concern. Individuals with underlying diseases or taking immunosuppressive medications are more susceptible to infection. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may also face an increased risk of developing COVID-19 infection and its associated complications.
 
Objectives: We assessed a population of MS patients receiving various types of disease-modifying therapies to determine if any of them are associated with an increased risk. Additionally, we examined the incidence of COVID-19, hospitalization and mortality rates among MS patients.
Method: This study was conducted at the MS clinic of Besat Hospital. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire included inquiries about participants' demographic characteristics and COVID-19 symptoms. A positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was acceptable for diagnosing COVID-19 and the accuracy of the data was evaluated by treating neurologist.
Results: 288 patients completed the questionnaire, out of which 132 were infected with COVID-19. The hospitalization rate was 20.5%, which was not higher than that of the general population. Seven patients died of COVID-19 infection. Rituximab and ocrelizumab were associated with a higher rate of hospitalization but not infection. However, a higher score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was significantly associated with COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion: This study revealed a higher incidence of COVID-19 among the study population. However, the risk of hospitalization was not elevated. Notably, patients undergoing anti-CD20 therapies had a higher likelihood of requiring hospitalization. This finding highlights the importance of considering preventive measures for COVID-19 in these particular patients.