COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rate in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients: What we know by May 2021

Background: : Despite investigations on the effect of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) used in multiple sclerosis (MS) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); there are still controversies. Objective: We designed this study to evaluate the epidemiological features of covid-19 in a large sample of people with MS (pwMS) in Isfahan, Iran, as well as the association between DMTs, risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. Methods: In an observational pwMS, we interviewed subjects on their MS and COVID-19 history. Results: 3050 subjects were included (74% female) with a mean age of 41.36. 423 (13.8%) had confirmed COVID-19 which shows that pwMS are at a higher risk of infection compared to the general population, No significant relationship was observed in COVID-19 infection when individual drugs. Dimethyl fumarate and rituximab had the lowest and the highest relative risks for hospitalization rate compared to other drugs, respectively. Conclusion: We found no evidence supporting a higher prevalence of COVID-19 in pwMS compared to the general population. However, our results show pwMS to be more prone to hospitalization compared to the general population, Therefore, it is advised to use safer treatment if possible until complete vaccination, and to postpone the use of rituximab.

Automated summary

This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in a large sample of multiple sclerosis patients in Isfahan, Iran. The results showed that multiple sclerosis patients are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection compared to the general population, and they are more prone to hospitalization. There was no significant relationship observed between individual drugs and COVID-19 infection, although rituximab had the highest relative risk for hospitalization.