What to Know About Rheumatic Disease and the COVID-19 Coronavirus

The Department of Medicine at Hospital for Special Surgery has put together the following guidance for people with rheumatic disease concerning the virus that causes COVID-19.

• What are the risks of COVID-19 to people with rheumatic conditions?
• What should I do if I feel sick?
• Should I stop taking my medications if I have a rheumatic disease and am concerned about COVID-19?
• Is there a shortage of medications for rheumatic diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis?
• How can I protect myself from COVID-19?
• Where can I go for more information?

What are the risks of COVID-19 to people with rheumatic conditions?

People with rheumatic disease may be at greater risk of developing infections and more severe infections, although we don’t know this for sure yet. This is due to the diseases themselves and to the medications used to treat these diseases. This vulnerability can affect people with several rheumatic conditions, including: lupus, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, vasculitis and many others.

Other people who may be predisposed to developing serious cases of COVID-19 include those who are aged 65 years or older, have diabetes (type 1 or type 2) or renal (kidney) disease, and women who are pregnant.

What should I do if I feel sick?

If you develop a fever, shortness of breath or a cough, particularly if you have travelled to areas with outbreaks or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 infection, it is very important to communicate with your health care provider. Communication is particularly essential for older patients, those who are pregnant, those with underlying lung or heart disease and those on immunosuppressive drugs. We don’t advise walk-in visits: Unless you need to get to an emergency room with a true emergency, it is recommended that you call ahead – call your doctor, or an urgent care center, or your hospital – so that you can be advised on what to do and whether you need to be seen in person or not.

Should I stop taking my medications if I have a rheumatic disease and am concerned about COVID-19?

In patients without symptoms of COVID-19, the decision to stop or reduce immune suppressing medications is an individual one, to be shared by physician and patient. In some patients, the risk of a disease flare might outweigh the possible benefits of stopping medications. Little if anything is known about how rheumatology medications affect COVID-19 infections.

Is there a shortage of medications for rheumatic diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis?

There has been, and this is a concern for the near future. See Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and Chloroquine Shortage Caused by COVID-19 Coronavirus Claims.

How can I protect myself from COVID-19?

As with any respiratory illness there are certain preventive measures that you can take. These include:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when not near soap and water.
• Clean and disinfect areas you and others touch often.
• The CDC recommends that, if healthy people must go out in public, they wear facemasks and maintain distance of at least six feet from others.

With respect to travel, we are advising our patients to limit or cancel unnecessary domestic and international travel. We also recommend that you avoid crowded areas, large gatherings and public transportation, and that you work remotely when possible.

Where can I go for more information?

Providing more specific recommendations for people with rheumatic diseases is difficult for two reasons: there is much that is not known, and the outbreak is changing rapidly.

However, you can find more detailed and up-to-date information about COVID-19 on the website of the Centers for Disease Control.

Updated: 5/28/2020

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