Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease

Project description Target The main aim of this study is to investigate whether infection with SARS-CoV-2 develops differently in patients with a rheumatic disease compared to healthy control participants and what the effect of immunosuppressive medication is on this. The focus is on the severity of the disease of COVID-19, differences in the development of immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and the effect of the pandemic on quality of life. Method Patients with a rheumatic disease are approached to participate in the study. Each patient is asked if he / she wants to enroll a control participant who does not have a rheumatic disease, is of the same sex and is approximately the same age (<5 years difference). In a period of approximately 6 months, both groups will be asked 3 times to complete a questionnaire and to have blood taken twice. The body material obtained will be tested for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.