Severe COVID-19 in Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators retrospectively evaluated patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who had either suspected SARS-CoV-2 infections (565 patients) or confirmed infections (279 patients). Mean age was 45 years and median Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 2.0.

Of the 13 patients who died, 11 had progressive MS and 8 were not on treatment. Intensive care admissions occurred in 4.5% of the total cohort, hospitalizations in 11.4%, and pneumonia in 11.7%. In univariate analyses, risks factors included older age, male sex, higher disability, long MS duration, progressive MS, and comorbidities. After adjustment for these factors, use of an anti-CD20 medication was associated with a 2.4-times increased risk for severe infection (95% CI, 1.2–4.7) an…