Why this study matters

Knowing that RA patients are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection justifies priority access to booster vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapy.

Study design

A total of 17,268 RA patients in the Health Improvement Network (a database representing general practitioners in the UK) were followed between February and September 2020.  RA patients infected with COVID-19 were identified and the percentage was compared with the general population and patients with osteoarthritis (negative control).

Results and conclusion

Forty-six of 17,268 RA patients and 2249 of 1,616,600 participants in the general population had confirmed infections with COVID-19 during the study period (hazard ratio = 1.42). Patients with osteoarthritis were shown not to be at increased risk for COVID-19 infections than the general population.