AUTHOR=Pedersen Eva S. L. , Schreck Leonie D. , Goutaki Myrofora , Bellu Sara , Copeland Fiona , Lucas Jane S. , Zwahlen Marcel , Kuehni Claudia E. 

TITLE=Incidence and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in People With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605561

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605561

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> There is little data on SARS-CoV-2 in people with rare chronic diseases. We studied incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 and its risk factors in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) from May 2020 to May 2022.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We used self-reported questionnaire data from the COVID-PCD study at baseline or during weekly follow-ups. We studied factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms using Poisson regression.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> By May 2022, 728 people participated (40% male, median age 27 years; range 0–85). 87 (12%) reported SARS-CoV-2 at baseline or during follow-up and 62 people reported an incident SARS-CoV-2 infection during 716 person-years (incidence rate 9 per 100 person years). The strongest predictors for reporting SARS-CoV-2 were exposure during periods where Delta variant was dominant (IRR 4.52, 95% CI 1.92–10.6) and Omicron variants (IRR 13.3, 95% CI 5.2–33.8). Severity was mild; 12 (14%) were asymptomatic and 75 (86%) had symptoms among whom four were hospitalized. None needed intensive care and nobody died.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The COVID-PCD study participants did not have a higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections nor higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease than people from the general population.</p>