SARS-CoV-2 in patients with Friedreich ataxia

This study reviews the course and outcomes of COVID-19 in a single site sub-cohort of a large natural history study to examine characteristics of FRDA that may guide future risk stratification in this population. The major finding of this study is that comorbid diabetes is a significant feature associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes in FRDA patients, who otherwise demonstrate largely similar infection courses as those of the general population. Higher neurological disease burden also predicts greater severity of COVID-19, although this effect is likely at least partially mediated by the association of disease progression with older age, which is a well-established risk factor for COVID-19 complications. On multivariate analysis including these factors, as well as breakthrough infection indicating vaccination status, only diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor of COVID-19 severity.

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