Hospital Practices and Research

COVID-19 Screening in Rheumatologic Diseases Cases; Special Look at Chloroquine Derivate Use

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Soraya Shadmanfar 1
Gholamhosein Alishiri 2
Noushin Bayat 3
Morteza Izadi 1
Ahmad Salimzadeh 4
Abdolrahman Rostamian 5
Shahla Abolghasemi 6
Mohammad Hossein Azimzadeh Ardebili 7
Zeynab Rastgar Moqaddam 8
Marjan Hasani 7
Ehsan Rahmanian 7
Helia Iranpanah 9
Ghodrat Allah Islami 7
Amin Saburi 2

1 Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Exercise Physiology Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqyiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Sina Hospital, Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Department of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 Department of Rheumatology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

7 Student Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

8 Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

9 Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.34172/hpr.2021.27
Abstract
Background: Among suggested medications for the treatment of COVID-19, chloroquine derivates and angiotensin-converting–enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are the two medications with conflicting effects on the development of the disease.
Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases receiving chloroquine derivate.
Methods: Every patient with proven rheumatologic diseases registered in two referral centers in Tehran and Alborz, Iran was enrolled in the present descriptive cross-sectional study between May and June 2020. At first, the symptoms of COVID-19 were assessed, and if a case had suspicious symptoms, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 tests were done. Demographic and clinical data are documented for every patient. Then, the patients were grouped once according to their COVID-19 infection status and another time according to their hydroxychloroquine use.
Results: 1159 patients enrolled in the study with a mean age of 49.39 years. Frequency of hypertension was 22.17 %, diabetics (9.49%) and 20 (1.7%) patients were positive for COVID-19 testing. The most common symptoms of the COVID-19 positive cases were cough (5.2%) and fever (4%). There was no significant difference in receiving ACEIs/ARBs or other medications between COVID-19 positive or negative patients. Among the patients receiving hydroxychloroquine, 15 patients (1.7%) had proved COVID-19 versus 5 patients (1.7%) who were not receiving these medications (P>0.999).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that receiving ARBs or ACEIs was not different among patients with or without COVID-19. Moreover, receiving chloroquine derivate was not related to the development of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatologic disorders.

Keywords

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
Chloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine
COVID-19
Hospital Practices and Research
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 24
Autumn 2021
Pages 141-147

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