EULAR launches COVID-19 RMD reporting database as part of Global Rheumatology Alliance
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) launches a European paediatric and adult database to monitor and report outcomes of COVID-19 occurring in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases with the support of the Global Rheumatology Alliance.
Key points:
The EULAR-COVID-19 Database is a European paediatric and adult database designed to monitor and report on outcomes of COVID-19 occurring in patients with RMDs.
Dr. Pedro Machado, Associate Professor & Consultant Rheumatologist at University College London and Chair of the EULAR Standing Committee of Epidemiology and Health Services Research comments, “We are grateful to our international colleagues who have established the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance and helped us establish this database. Anonymised data collected by the EULAR-COVID-19 Database will be shared with this other international register, based in the United States.
“There is an urgent need to understand outcomes of patients who acquire COVID-19 and are receiving steroids, synthetic or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This will help guide rheumatologists and other clinicians such as specialist nurses in advising and caring for their patients.”
EULAR encourages rheumatology clinicians from across Europe to report all cases of COVID-19 in their rheumatology patients, regardless of severity (including asymptomatic patients detected through public health screening). Understanding less severe cases or even mild cases will help develop further understanding regarding those who develop the most severe form.
European cases should only be reported to the EULAR-COVID-19 database, in order to avoid duplication of cases. If you have reported cases to a national database (if there is one in your country) please do not duplicate the reporting to the EULAR database. Data will later be merged with cases reported to the Global Rheumatology Alliance. Non-European EULAR countries should report cases to the EULAR database rather than to the US-based database.
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