Unadjusted rates of COVID-19 outcomes according to SLE treatment received prior to COVID-19
| Total (N=687) N (% over column) | No 30-day outcome (N=446) N (% over row) | Any 30-day outcome (death, mechanical ventilation, ICU, hospitalisation) (N=241) N (% over row) | P value | |
| Steroids average dose* (1 month before COVID-19 diagnosis) | ||||
| None | 600 (87.3) | 402 (67) | 198 (33) | 0.006 |
| Low (>0 mg and <7.5 mg) | 71 (10.3) | 34 (47.9) | 37 (52.1) | |
| Medium-High (≥7.5 mg) | 16 (2.3) | 10 (62.5) | 6 (37.5) | |
| Any steroid use (3 months before COVID-19 diagnosis) | ||||
| No | 498 (72.5) | 353 (70.9) | 145 (29.1) | <0.001 |
| Yes | 189 (27.5) | 93 (49.2) | 96 (50.8) | |
| Azathioprine | ||||
| No | 638 (92.9) | 415 (65) | 223 (35) | 0.8 |
| Yes | 49 (7.1) | 31 (63.3) | 18 (36.7) | |
| Cyclophosphamide | ||||
| No | 673 (98) | 437 (64.9) | 236 (35.1) | 1.0* |
| Yes | 14 (2) | 9 (64.3) | 5 (35.7) | |
| Methotrexate | ||||
| No | 630 (91.7) | 401 (63.7) | 229 (36.3) | 0.02 |
| Yes | 57 (8.3) | 45 (78.9) | 12 (21.1) | |
| Mycophenolate | ||||
| No | 582 (84.7) | 392 (67.4) | 190 (32.6) | 0.002 |
| Yes | 105 (15.3) | 54 (51.4) | 51 (48.6) | |
| Leflunomide | ||||
| No | 666 (96.9) | 437 (65.6) | 229 (34.4) | 0.03 |
| Yes | 21 (3.1) | 9 (42.9) | 12 (57.1) | |
| Tacrolimus | ||||
| No | 648 (94.3) | 429 (66.2) | 219 (33.8) | 0.004 |
| Yes | 39 (5.7) | 17 (43.6) | 22 (56.4) | |
| Cyclosporine | ||||
| No | 659 (95.9) | 432 (65.6) | 227 (34.4) | 0.09 |
| Yes | 28 (4.1) | 14 (50) | 14 (50) | |
| Rituximab | ||||
| No | 663 (96.5) | 434 (97.3) | 229 (95) | 0.12 |
| Yes | 24 (3.5) | 12 (2.7) | 12 (5) | |
| Belimumab | ||||
| No | 655 (95.3) | 420 (64.1) | 235 (35.9) | 0.047 |
| Yes | 32 (4.7) | 26 (81.3) | 6 (18.8) | |
| Antimalarials | ||||
| No | 379 (55.2) | 244 (64.4) | 135 (35.6) | 0.74 |
| Yes | 308 (44.8) | 202 (65.6) | 106 (34.4) | |
Except for steroid, other treatment drugs were evaluated in 6 months before COVID-19 diagnosis.
*Medium and high dose corticosteroid doses were grouped together due to small sample size.
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 19; ICU, intensive care unit; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.