COVID-19 prevalence and outcomes in patients receiving biologic therapies at an infusion center in New York City

Clin Immunol. 2021 Sep:230:108803. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108803. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Abstract

To better understand COVID-19 infection in patients receiving biologic and immunomodulatory therapies, we evaluated prevalence and outcomes for symptomatic cases of COVID-19 at a large therapeutic infusion center in New York City during the height of the pandemic. 2074 patients received treatment with biologic infusions at our center between March and May 2020, and 34 patients developed symptomatic COVID-19 infection, for an overall low rate of 1.64%. The majority of infections and deaths were in a small subset of patients with a primary immunodeficiency. Patients with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions requiring biologic therapies tended to have mild cases. Higher inflammatory responses were observed in patients who died.

Keywords: Biologic therapy; COVID-19; Immunodeficiencies; Immunomodulatory therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care Facilities*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy*
  • Biological Factors / administration & dosage*
  • Biomarkers
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Biomarkers