Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35724529›Full record

ArticleMultiple sclerosis and related disorders2022

Outcomes of multiple sclerosis patients admitted with COVID-19 in a large veteran cohort.

Tom A Fuchs, Bethany A Wattengel, Michael T Carter, Ali A El-Solh, Alan J Lesse, Kari A Mergenhagen

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 33% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Tom A FuchsJacobs Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Bethany A WattengelVeteran Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Department of Pharmacy, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Michael T CarterVeteran Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Department of Pharmacy, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Ali A El-SolhVeteran Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Department of Research and Development, Buffalo, NY, United States.
Alan J LesseDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Veteran Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY.
Kari A MergenhagenVeteran Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Department of Pharmacy, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address: Kari.Mergenhagen@va.gov.
VA Western New York Healthcare System · USUniversity at Buffalo, State University of New York · US

Funding

CSRD VA I01 CX001656HSRD VA I01 HX000466
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGiven concerns over immune function, the decision whether to continue disease modifying therapy (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, complicated by the risk of MS disease progression in the absence of treatment.

methodsThis retrospective analysis of patients treated for COVID-19 infection at veteran affairs healthcare systems across the United States, investigated 30-day all-cause mortality after first positive COVID-19 in patients with and without MS. We examined mortality risk impact of disease modifying therapy for MS, accounting for other relevant factors known to be associated with COVID-19 mortality. Patients were propensity score matched in a 1:20 fashion based on MS diagnosis.

results49,737 COVID-19 inpatient cases were identified, of which 258 were diagnosed with MS. In the propensity score matched cohort, MS patients taking DMT (excluding those receiving anti-CD20 antibodies) had a lower odds of 30 day mortality (OR: 0.18 [95%CI: 0.00988-0.94] p=0.041). Similarly, in the unmatched cohort, patients on DMT had a lower risk of death (OR: 0.16 [95%CI: 0.01-0.82] p=0.023). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between those with and without MS. In the propensity matched cohort, age over 65, heart failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and diabetes increased the risk of mortality while vaccination reduced the risk of mortality.

conclusionVeteran patients with MS hospitalized for COVID-19 were less likely to die when taking DMTs (excluding those receiving anti-CD20 antibodies), accounting for other relevant factors. Results suggest that, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only is it safe to continue most DMTs in people with MS, but it may be beneficial given the decreased risk of COVID-19 mortality and decreased risk of MS disease progression.

Indexed as

COVID-19Multiple SclerosisVeteransDisease ProgressionHumansImmunosuppressive AgentsPandemicsRetrospective StudiesImmunosuppressive AgentsCOVIDMortalityMultiple sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID35724529
PMCPMC9188116
OpenAlexW4283034418

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.