Rethinking immunologic risk: a retrospective cohort study of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections in individuals with congenital immunodeficiencies
Authors: Nguyen Alan A. , Habiballah Saddiq B. , LaBere Brenna , Day-Lewis Megan , Elkins Megan , Al-Musa Amer , Chu Anne , Jones Jennifer , Fried Ari J. , McDonald Douglas , van Konijnenburg David P. Hoytema , Rockowitz Shira , Sliz Piotr , Oettgen Hans C. , Schneider Lynda C. , MacGinnitie Andrew , Bartnikas Lisa M. , Platt Craig D. , Ohsumi Toshiro K. , Chou Janet 
Published: June 2023

Background

Debates on the allocation of medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need for a better understanding of immunologic risk. Studies highlighted variable clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in individuals with defects in both adaptive and innate immunity, suggesting additional contributions from other factors. Notably, none of these studies controlled for variables linked with social determinants of health.

Objective

To determine the contributions of determinants of health to risk of hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals with inborn errors of immunodeficiencies.

Methods

This is a retrospective, single-center cohort study of 166 individuals with inborn errors of immunity, aged two months through 69 years, who developed SARS-CoV-2 infections from March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022. Risks of hospitalization was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

The risk of SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalization was associated with underrepresented racial and ethnic populations (odds ratio [OR] 5.29; confidence interval [CI], 1.76-17.0), a diagnosis of any genetically-defined immunodeficiency (OR 4.62; CI, 1.60-14.8), use of B cell depleting therapy within one year of infection (OR 6.1; CI, 1.05-38.5), obesity (OR 3.74; CI, 1.17-12.5), and neurologic disease (OR 5.38; CI, 1.61-17.8). COVID-19 vaccination was associated with reduced hospitalization risk (OR 0.52; CI, 0.31-0.81). Defective T cell function, immune-mediated organ dysfunction, and social vulnerability were not associated with increased risk of hospitalization after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions

The associations between race, ethnicity, and obesity with increased risk of hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection indicate the importance of variables linked with social determinants of health as immunologic risk factors for individuals with inborn errors of immunity.

Highlights

What is already known about this topic?Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in individuals with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are highly variable. Prior studies of patients with IEI have not controlled for race or social vulnerability.

What does this article add to our knowledge? For individuals with IEI, hospitalizations for SARS-CoV-2 were associated with race, ethnicity, obesity, and neurologic disease. Specific types of immunodeficiency, organ dysfunction, and social vulnerability were not associated with increased risk of hospitalization.

How does this study impact current management guidelines?Current guidelines for the management of IEIs focus on risk conferred by genetic and cellular mechanisms. This study highlights the importance of considering variables linked with social determinants of health and common comorbidities as immunologic risk factors.