COVID-19 related outcomes among individuals with neurodegenerative diseases: a cohort analysis in the UK biobank

BMC Neurol. 2022 Jan 7;22(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02536-7.

Abstract

Background: An increased susceptibility to COVID-19 has been suggested for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, but data are scarce from longitudinal studies.

Methods: In this community-based cohort study, we included 96,275 participants of the UK Biobank who had available SARS-CoV-2 test results in Public Health England. Of these, 2617 had a clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases in the UK Biobank inpatient hospital data before the outbreak of COVID-19 (defined as January 31st, 2020), while the remaining participants constituted the reference group. We then followed both groups from January 31st, 2020 to June 14th, 2021 for ascertainment of COVID-19 outcomes, including any COVID-19, inpatient care for COVID-19, and COVID-19 related death. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between neurogenerative disease and risks of COVID-19 outcomes, adjusted for multiple confounders and somatic comorbidities.

Results: We observed an elevated risk of COVID-19 outcomes among individuals with a neurodegenerative disease compared with the reference group, corresponding to a fully adjusted odds ratio of 2.47 (95%CI 2.25-2.71) for any COVID-19, 2.18 (95%CI 1.94-2.45) for inpatient COVID-19, and 3.67 (95%CI 3.11-4.34) for COVID-19 related death. Among individuals with a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, individuals with neurodegenerative diseases had also a higher risk of COVID-19 related death than others (fully adjusted odds ratio 2.08; 95%CI 1.71-2.53).

Conclusion: Among UK Biobank participants who received at least one test for SARS-CoV-2, a pre-existing diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease was associated with a subsequently increased risk of COVID-19, especially COVID-19 related death.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cohort study; Neurodegenerative diseases; UK biobank.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Specimen Banks
  • COVID-19*
  • Cohort Studies
  • England
  • Humans
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2