| Background: Regarding the high prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and COVID-19 in Iran, a multicenter study
of COVID-19 in Iranian MS patients with is carried out to address the concerns of this population.
Methods: Data on MS patients with COVID-19 from nine provinces of Iran were entered in a web-based registry
system, between July 2020 and March 2021. Among the COVID-19 symptoms, dyspnea, altered mental status, or
those resulting in hospital admission were considered severe.
Results: A total of 397 eligible patients were identified. In addition, 310 (78%) were female. The mean age was
36.5 ± 9.5. 294 (74%) patients had relapsing- remitting form. Also, four patients (1%) expired due to COVID-19
infection. The mean duration of admission in hospitalized patients was 9 (± 5.3) days. MRI was performed on
111 (28%) patients after developing COVID-19. MRI changes were observed in 27 (24%) of these cases. MS drug
was changed in 26 (6%) patients. Steroid use in the past three months (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.003–5.88) (p value:
0.049) and antiCD20s (OR: 4.03, 95% CI: 2.41–6.68) (p value < 0.001) showed significant association with
severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Conclusion: The death rate of COVID-19 among MS patients (1%) is lower than the overall death rate of the
pandemic in Iran (3%). Those who received steroid in the past three months may be at increased risk of more
severe forms of COVID-19. There are still doubts about the effect of anti CD20s on COVID-19 severity. |