Author/Authors :
Shadmanfar, Soraya Health Research Center - Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Alishiri, Gholamhosein Chemical Injuries Research Center - Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Bayat, Noushin Exercise Physiology Research Center - Baqyiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Izadi, Morteza Health Research Center - Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Salimzadeh, Ahmad Rheumatology Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Rostamian, Abdolrahman Department of Rheumatology - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Abolghasemi, Shahla Department of Rheumatology - Tehran Medical Sciences - Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , Azimzadeh Ardebili, Mohammad Hossein Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Rastgar Moqaddam, Zeynab Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran , Hasani, Marjan Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Rahmanian, Ehsan Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Iranpanah, Helia Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Islami, Ghodrat Allah Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Saburi, Amin Chemical Injuries Research Center - Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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.
