Inactivated vaccines help minimize COVID-19–associated pneumonia in RMDs

In people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), inactivated COVID-19 vaccines prove safe and effective at lowering the risk of COVID-19–related pneumonia, as shown in a study from China.  

The study included 592 RMD patients with COVID-19 in Jiangsu Province. Researchers collected data on demographics, disease characteristics, antirheumatic drug use, vaccination status, and survival state. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the effect of COVID-19 immunization on the primary outcome of COVID-19–associated pneumonia. Adverse events (AEs) following vaccination were also assessed.  

A total of 290 (49.0 percent) patients received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19-associated pneumonia occurred in 276 patients (46.6 percent).  

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of COVID-19–associated pneumonia was significantly reduced among those who received inactivated vaccines, with booster vaccine being associated with an independent protective effect (odds ratio [OR], 0.64, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.98; p=0.034).  

Notably, the protective effect of inactivated vaccines was greater among RMD patients with a high risk of developing pneumonia, including those who were 45 years of age and older (OR, 0.53, 95 percent CI, 0.34–0.83) and those who had lung involvement (OR, 0.43, 95 percent CI, 0.23–0.82).  

The total rate of adverse events (AEs) with the vaccines was 13.9 percent, with 3.8 percent of patients experiencing recurrence or deterioration of RMDs. There were no cases of serious AEs.