Gupta, Latika

Abstract Objectives Medical nutrition therapy significantly impacts cardiovascular risk and overall health, but effects on muscle diseases remain unclear. This systematic review evaluates the safety and efficacy of dietary interventions and supplements on muscle disease outcomes. Methods A multidisciplinary team conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review registered on PROSPERO. Searches were conducted across multiple databases and screened against pre-specified inclusion criteria. Results Of 107 full-text articles screened, 51 met inclusion criteria. Most identified interventions used dietary supplements rather than whole dietary approaches. In inflammatory myopathies, creatine (loading dose 20 g/day, maintenance 3 g/day) combined with exercise improved high-intensity functional performance in PM and DM over 6 months. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, creatine (2–10 g/day for 8–16 weeks) improved maximal voluntary contraction and fatigue resistance. Carbohydrate-rich diets (65% CHO) reduced exercise-related symptoms in McArdle disease, while high-dose creatine (150 mg/kg/day) paradoxically worsened symptoms. Four trials of aceneuramic acid (6 g/day for 48 weeks) in GNE myopathy demonstrated dose-dependent strength improvements, leading to regulatory approval in Japan. High-protein supplementation showed positive trends for muscle preservation in critical illness myopathy. Quality assessment revealed 31% at low risk of bias, 49% with some concerns and 20% at high risk. Conclusion Evidence for nutritional interventions in muscle diseases remains limited, especially for inflammatory myopathies. The strongest support emerged for mechanistically targeted approaches: creatine with exercise, carbohydrate-rich and ketogenic diets in McArdle disease and sialic acid in GNE myopathy. Future research requires adequately powered multicentre trials with standardized outcomes, with focus on inflammatory myopathies.

Abstract Objective The presence of comorbidities can substantially affect patients’ quality of life, but data regarding their impact on idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are limited. Methods We examined the prevalence of comorbidities in IIM patients, other autoimmune rheumatic diseases (oAIRDs) and healthy controls (HCs), using data from the self-reported COVAD-2 survey. We defined basic multimorbidity (BM) as the presence of ≥2 non-rheumatic chronic conditions and complex multimorbidity (CM) as the presence of ≥3 non-rheumatic chronic conditions affecting ≥3 organ systems. Hierarchical clustering on principal components was performed for grouping. Results Among the COVAD respondents, 1558 IIMs, 4591 oAIRDs and 3652 HCs were analysed. IIMs exhibited a high burden of comorbidities (odds ratio [OR]: 1.62 vs oAIRDs and 2.95 vs HCs, P < 0.01), BM (OR: 1.66 vs oAIRDs and 3.52 vs HCs, P < 0.01), CM (OR: 1.69 vs AIRDs and 6.23 vs HCs, P < 0.01) and mental health disorders (MHDs) (OR: 1.33 vs oAIRDs and 2.63 vs HCs, P < 0.01). Among the IIM patients, those with comorbidities or MHDs had lower PROMIS Global Physical (PGP), PROMIS Global Mental (PGM), and PROMIS Physical Function (SF10) scores, and higher fatigue (F4a) scores (all P < 0.001). PGP, PGM, SF10a and F4a were influenced by age, active disease, BM and MHDs. Four distinct clusters were identified among the IIMs according to comorbidities and PROMIS scores. Conclusion Patients with IIMs have a higher burden of comorbidities that influence physical and mental health, identifiable as clinical clusters for optimized and holistic management approaches.

AbstractStatins are the first line of treatment for both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite the positive effects of statins on cardiovascular events, not all patients can use them at an optimized dose. The reason for this is the skeletal muscle side effects, termed statin‐associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Despite extensive research, the precise pathophysiology of SAMS remains unclear and multiple mechanisms may contribute to this phenomenon. Various therapeutic options are available for the management of SAMS, ranging from rechallenging with the same or a different statin to utilizing non‐statin therapeutic alternatives in patients intolerant to statins. However, the lack of consensus on the definition of SAMS, the absence of a definitive diagnostic test, and lack of a universally accepted management algorithm pose a great challenge in dealing with this entity. This review aims to explore the various pathophysiological mechanisms involved in SAMS and understand the difference between self‐limited toxic myopathy and immune‐mediated myopathy requiring immunomodulatory therapy. The conundrum of statin withdrawal, tapering, and rechallenge in SAMS will also be explored in detail along with the newer non‐statin therapies that are available.

AbstractBackgroundDespite the overall safety and efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccinations, rare cases of systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) have been reported post‐vaccination. This study used a global survey to analyze SAIDs in susceptible individuals' post‐vaccination.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among participants with self‐reported new‐onset SAIDs using the COVID‐19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) 2 study dataset—a validated, patient‐reported e‐survey—to analyze the long‐term safety of COVID‐19 vaccines. Baseline characteristics of patients with new‐onset SAIDs and vaccinated healthy controls (HCs) were compared after propensity score matching based on age and sex in a 1:4 ratio.ResultsOf 16 750 individuals, 74 (median age 52 years, 79.9% females, and 76.7% Caucasians) had new‐onset SAID post‐vaccination, mainly idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) (n = 23, 31.51%), arthritis (n = 15; 20.53%), and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) (n = 12, 16.40%). Higher odds of new‐onset SAIDs were noted among Caucasians (OR = 5.3; 95% CI = 2.9–9.7; p < .001) and Moderna vaccine recipients (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.3–5.3; p = .004). New‐onset SAIDs were associated with AID multimorbidity (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1–1.7; p < .001), mental health disorders (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.3–1.9; p < .001), and mixed race (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2–4.2; p = .010), where those aged >60 years (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4–0.8; p = .007) and from high/medium human development index (HDI) countries (compared to very high HDI) reported fewer events than HCs.ConclusionThis study reports a low occurrence of new‐onset SAIDs following COVID‐19 vaccination, primarily IIMs, PMR, and inflammatory arthritis. Identified risk factors included pre‐existing AID multimorbidity, mental health diseases, and mixed race. Revaccination was well tolerated by most patients; therefore, we recommend continuing COVID‐19 vaccination in the general population. However, long‐term studies are needed to understand the autoimmune phenomena arising post‐vaccination.

AbstractBackgroundThe pandemic presented unique challenges for individuals with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) due to their underlying condition, the effects of immunosuppressive treatments, and increased vaccine hesitancy.ObjectivesThe COVID‐19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) study, a series of ongoing, patient self‐reported surveys were conceived with the vision of being a unique tool to gather patient perspectives on AIRDs. It involved a multinational, multicenter collaborative effort amidst a global lockdown.MethodsLeveraging social media as a research tool, COVAD collected data using validated patient‐reported outcomes (PROs). The study, comprising a core team, steering committee, and global collaborators, facilitated data collection and analysis. A pilot‐tested, validated survey, featuring questions regarding COVID‐19 infection, vaccination and outcomes, patient demographics, and PROs was circulated to patients with AIRDs and healthy controls (HCs).DiscussionWe present the challenges encountered during this international collaborative project, including coordination, data management, funding constraints, language barriers, and authorship concerns, while highlighting the measures taken to address them.ConclusionCollaborative virtual models offer a dynamic new frontier in medical research and are vital to studying rare diseases. The COVAD study demonstrates the potential of online platforms for conducting large‐scale, patient‐focused research and underscores the importance of integrating patient perspective into clinical care. Care of patients is our central motivation, and it is essential to recognize their voices as equal stakeholders and valued partners in the study of the conditions that affect them.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BIs) in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) using data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study. Methods A validated patient self-reporting e-survey was circulated by the COVAD study group to collect data on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in 2022. BIs were defined as COVID-19 occurring ≥14 days after two vaccine doses. We compared BI characteristics and severity among patients with IIMs, patients with other autoimmune rheumatic and non-rheumatic diseases (AIRD, nrAID), and healthy controls (HCs). Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the risk factors for BI, severe BI ,and hospitalizations among patients with IIMs. Results Among the 9449 included responses, BIs occurred in 1447 respondents (15.3%). The median age was 44 years [interquartile range (IQR) 21], 77.4% were female, and 182 BIs (12.9%) occurred among the 1406 patients with IIMs. Multivariable Cox regression among the data for patients with IIMs showed increasing age to be a protective factor for BIs [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97–0.99], and HCQ and SSZ use were risk factors (HR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.24–2.64, and HR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.69–8.42, respectively). Glucocorticoid use was a risk factor for a severe BI (HR = 3.61, 95% CI = 1.09–11.8). Non-white ethnicity (HR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.03–6.59) was a risk factor for hospitalization. Compared with other groups, patients with IIMs required more supplemental oxygen therapy (IIMs = 6.0% vs AIRDs = 1.8%, nrAIDs = 2.2% and HCs = 0.9%), intensive care unit admission (IIMs = 2.2% vs AIRDs = 0.6%, nrAIDs and HCs = 0%), advanced treatment with antiviral or monoclonal antibodies (IIMs = 34.1% vs AIRDs = 25.8%, nrAIDs = 14.6% and HCs = 12.8%) and had more hospitalization (IIMs = 7.7% vs AIRDs = 4.6%, nrAIDs = 1.1% and HCs = 1.5%). Conclusion Patients with IIMs are susceptible to severe COVID-19 BIs. Age and immunosuppressive treatments were related to the risk of BIs.