The impact of corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination on patients with systemic rheumatic diseases attending a tertiary care university-based hospital

Background

Safety and efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine among systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) remain a serious concern.

Aim of the work

To explore different corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine adverse reactions, post-vaccination COVID-19 infection, disease flare and acceptability of vaccine among patients with SRDs.

Patients and methods

This study was conducted on 750 patients with SRDs attending the Rheumatology Department, Cairo University Hospitals (December 2022 – February 2023). All patients were subjected to full clinical history, COVID-19 infection, vaccine history, adverse events, disease flare and assessment of their acceptability to the vaccine.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 41.6 ± 11.7 years with a female:male 8.4:1 and 52.5 % were educated. 414 (55.2 %) received COVID-19 vaccine. Only 26 (6.3 %) suffered from post-vaccination COVID- 19 infection (one mild attack). The causes for not receiving the vaccine were either due to unacceptability (78.9 %) or doctors’ advice (21.1 %). 64.8 % received inactivated virus vaccines (64.8 %) and 87.9 % received two doses. The commonest local and systemic side effects were pain (73.9 %) and headache (30.2 %). Only four (0.96 %) patients reported disease flare. There was a significant difference between the diagnosis, type of vaccines and some of the adverse effects of the vaccines such as pain (p = 0.019) and fever (p = 0.021), redness (p = 0.007) and swelling (p = 0.013).

Conclusion

The efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among Egyptian patients with SRDs is confirmed. There were significant differences in certain vaccine side effects especially pain, fever, redness and swelling. Most patients well tolerated the COVID-19 vaccine providing reassurance.