Clinical course of COVID-19 infections in patients with Behçet's disease in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to investigate the cumulative incidence and the severity of COVID-19 infections in patients with Behçet's disease.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients with Behçet's disease was conducted. We obtained the data systematically from electronic patient files and through telephone interviews between February 2020 and May 1, 2021. Main outcomes were COVID-19 infection, disease duration, hospitalisation, intensive care admission and mortality. Secondary outcome was adherence to quarantine measures as recommended by the government.

RESULTS

185 Behçet's disease patients were included (mean age 42.2 years, 54% female); 58% of the patients were receiving colchicine, 30% anti-TNFα, 16% azathioprine and 8% systemic steroids. 30 patients (16.2%) were positive for COVID-19. Within our cohort, the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was therefore 16.2% (95% CI 11.2-22.3%), which is significantly increased when compared to the general Dutch population (8.7% (95% CI 8.72-8.73%)) (p < 0.001). Four out of 30 (13%) patients were admitted to the hospital. There was no COVID-19 related mortality observed. Patients adhered to government measures; except in the period between the 1st of June and the 28th of September, this cohort received more visitors than in period 1 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, Behçet's disease patients have a higher risk for COVID-19 infection, without an increase of virus-related mortality. The course of COVID-19 disease in this cohort is relatively mild, with a lower admission rate than expected of patients using immunosuppressive medication.