The risk and risk factors of chikungunya virus infection and rheumatological sequelae in a cohort of U.S. Military Health System beneficiaries: implications for the vaccine era
Authors: Pollett SD , Hsieh H-C , Lu D , Grance M , Nowak G , Lanteri C , Tribble D , Burgess TH 
Published: November 2023

Background

Understanding the risk of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and rheumatic sequelae across populations, including travelers and the military, is critical. We leveraged the electronic medical records of about 9.5 million U.S. Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries to identify the risk of post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae.

Methodology/Principal Findings

MHS beneficiary CHIKV infections diagnosed 2014–2018 were identified from the Disease Reporting System internet, TRICARE Encounter Data Non-Institutional, and Comprehensive Ambulatory/Professional Encounter Record systems. Non-CHIKV controls were matched (1:4) by age, gender, beneficiary status, and encounter date. The frequency of comorbidities and incident rheumatic diagnoses through 2020 were derived from International Classification of Diseases codes and compared between cases and controls. Logistic regression models estimated the association of CHIKV infection with rheumatic sequelae and risk factors for post-CHIKV sequelae. 195 CHIKV cases were diagnosed between July 2014 and December 2018. The mean age was 42 years, and 43.6% were active duty. 63/195 (32.3%) of CHIKV cases had an incident rheumatic diagnosis, including arthralgia, polyarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and/or rheumatoid arthritis, compared to 156/780 (20.0%) of controls (p < 0.001). CHIKV infection remained associated with rheumatic sequelae (aOR = 1.911, p = 0.002) after adjusting for prior rheumatic disease and demography. Those with rheumatic CHIKV sequelae had a median 7 healthcare encounters (IQR 3–15). Among CHIKV infections, we found no association between post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae and demography, service characteristics, or comorbidities.

Conclusions/Significance

CHIKV infection is uncommon but associated with rheumatic sequelae among MHS beneficiaries, with substantial healthcare requirements in a proportion of cases with such sequelae. No demographic, clinical, or occupational variables were associated with post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae, suggesting that prediction of these complications is challenging in MHS beneficiaries. These findings are important context for future CHIKV vaccine decision making in this and other populations.

Author summary

We examined U.S. Military Health System (MHS) electronic medical records during to identify the likelihood of rheumatic complications after chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. Overall, CHIKV infections were rare in the MHS, with 195 cases found in the records between 2014 and 2018 (a period which encompassed the peak of the CHIKV epidemic in the Americas). Of these, about 32% received a rheumatic diagnosis after infection, including arthralgia, polyarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients who had a rheumatic diagnosis had on average 7 healthcare encounters for their post-CHIKV rheumatic complication, and a quarter had more than 15 healthcare encounters. We did not find any demographic, clinical, or occupational characteristics associated with developing rheumatic complications after CHIKV, suggesting that predicting rheumatic complications from CHIKV may be challenging in MHS beneficiaries. These findings may provide important context for decisions about implementing an approved chikungunya vaccine to military servicemembers and other MHS beneficiaries.