Pre-existing conditions associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, 2023, Elizabeth T Jacobs et al

Highlights

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 has been increasingly observed to occur in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

To date, it is not known which comorbidities may increase an individual's risk of developing PASC.

This study shows that those with autoimmune diseases were more likely to develop PASC than without these comorbidities.

Abstract
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) are conditions that occur or remain at least 28 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection. While some risk factors for PASC have been identified, little is known about pre-existing conditions that render one susceptible to developing PASC.

Data from participants (n = 1224) in a longitudinal COVID-19 cohort study in Arizona were used to investigate comorbid conditions associated with PASC. After adjustment of the models for age, BMI, gender, race, and smoking, the following pre-existing conditions were statistically significantly associated with the development of PASC: asthma (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.10–2.15); chronic constipation (OR = 4.29; 95% CI = 1.15–16.00); reflux (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.01–2.34); rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 3.69; 95%CI = 1.15–11.82); seasonal allergies (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.22–1.98); and depression/anxiety (OR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.17–2.52).

When grouping conditions together, statistically significant associations with PASC were observed for respiratory (OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.06–2.14); gastrointestinal (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.16–2.26), and autoimmune conditions (OR = 4.38; 95% CI = 1.59–12.06).
After adjustment for severity of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and depression/anxiety, seasonal allergies (OR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.15–1.91) and autoimmune disease (OR = 3.78; 95% CI - 1.31-10.91) remained significantly associated with risk for PASC.

These findings indicate that numerous pre-existing conditions may be associated with an increased risk for the development of PASC. Patients with these conditions should consider taking extra steps to avoid infection.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841122001998?via=ihub

 

One of the authors of this paper has MS and RA and wrote that the results were not what she hoped to see and advising vulnerable patients take extra steps to protect themselves from SARS-CoV-2.