Ab1322 covid-19 pandemic and systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases: our experience in dakar, senegal (sub-saharan africa)

Background There are paucity data regarding the Covid-19 pandemic on the management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Objectives The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the follow-up of patients with systemic inflammatory diseases and their adherence to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Methods We performed a multicentric cross-sectional study between August 1 st and October 31, 2021. The study targeted the patients diagnosed for systemic diseases according to the international criteria. The patients were followed in the departments of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Nephrology of 04 hospitals in Dakar (Senegal). The survey was based on records of 13 questions (with responses collected from the patients’ medical records) and was completed by a telephone interview with 38 potential questions. All responses were collected using a web-based application and then exported and analyzed using SPSS 26 software. Results 131 patients were included with a mean age of 41.5 years (+/-12.4) and a sex ratio of 0.08. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases included: Rheumatoid arthritis (47.3%), Systemic lupus erythematosus (22.9%), Autoimmune myositis (10.7%), Sjögren’s syndrome (6.9%), Systemic sclerosis (4.6%), Spondylarthritis (2.3%), Antiphospholipid syndrome (1.5%), ANCA-associated vasculitis (1.5%), Adult-onset Still’s disease (0.8%), Systemic sarcoidosis (0.8%) and Relapsing polychondritis (0.8%). Patients reported missing one or more follow-up appointments in 45%, a drug break (33.6%) regarding particularly the methotrexate (21/44 of patients: 47.7%) and hydroxychloroquine (18/44 patients: 40.9%) with a flare-up of their disease in 31% of cases. Covid-19 infection was confirmed in 11 patients (8.4%). Our survey showed that 47 patients (35.8%) were vaccinated with: Ad.26.COV2.S (40.4%), chAdOx1 nCoV-19 (27.7%) and BBIBP-CorV (31.9%). Side effects were reported by 21 of 47 patients (45%) only after the first dose. 2 of 47 (4.25%) patients had a medically confirmed flare. 84 (64.2%) patients were not vaccinated. Fear of vaccine side effects and the effects of the vaccine on systemic disease were the main reasons for non-adherence to vaccination. Conclusion The covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the follow-up of patients with systemic inflammatory diseases in Dakar. Vaccine hesitancy is a reality in these patients. Reference [1]Akintayo RO, Akpabio AA, Kall AA, Dey D et al. The impact of COVID-19 on rheumatic practice across Africa. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021; 5 (60): 392-398. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests None Declared.