Corticosteroids, but not TNF antagonists, are associated with adverse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: Results from an international registry

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in December 2019 and has rapidly spread throughout the world leading to an international pandemic.1 Although most cases of COVID-19 are mild, the disease can become severe and result in hospitalization, respiratory failure, or death with reported case fatality rates ranging from 2.3% to 7.2%.2,3 To date, the most frequently identified risk factors for severe COVID-19 have been age, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung conditions, obesity, and diabetes.2,4 In a recent report from the United States, 78% of patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission had at least 1 underlying comorbidity