Prevalence, incidence and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adult coeliac patients

Abstract

Objectives Data on SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in adult coeliac disease (CD) are lacking. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the epidemiology and clinical features of COVID-19 in adult coeliac patients regularly followed-up at our centre since January 2015. Methods Data about general health status and clinical features of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were prospectively collected over the phone. Data about CD were retrospectively collected from clinical notes. Prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 were compared between the coeliac cohort and the figures in the general population of Lombardy, Northern Italy between 20 February to 5 June 2020 provided by the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and the Lombardy regional government. Results Nine out of 324 patients contracted COVID-19, thus resulting in a prevalence of 2.78% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–4.58] and an incidence rate of 8.15/1000 person-month (95% CI 4.24–15.66). Prevalence of COVID-19 ascertained by means of nasal swab was 1.79% (95% CI 0.22–3.35) and the incidence rate 5.26/1000 person-month (95% CI 2.19–12.63), without difference from the general population. Clinical type of CD, age, sex, duration and adherence to a gluten-free diet, and mucosal healing did not differ between coeliac patients with and without COVID-19. None of the 9 patients with COVID-19 required hospitalization. Conclusion Patients with CD do not seem to carry an increased risk of COVID-19 compared to the general population and their disease course is mild.