CMT-COVID Survey

Abstract

CMT and other neuromuscular diseases are at an increased risk for severe presentations of COVID-19. We investigated how many participants in our online cohort were diagnosed with COVID-19, the symptoms they presented with, the presence of risk factors, and how the COVID-19 impacted the progression of their CMT. Abstract Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic and public health emergency caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 on patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), the most common genetic neuromuscular disorder. Methods: A simple online questionnaire for CMT patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was developed to investigate how much the COVID-19 impacted the community of CMT patients and its consequences on the progression of CMT. With the support of the Italian CMT patient Association (ACMT-Rete) and the American CMT Association (CMTA), the survey was distributed electronically through the INC Contact Registry and the web-based Contact Registry in the US, and in Italy through the Italian CMT Registry, ACMT-Rete members newsletter and social networks. Results: 152 individuals completed the survey. Approximately 59% of completers were female, and the average age was 49.96 (SD 12,65, range 22-76 years). 13.8% of the respondents had a COVID diagnosis and 2% (n=3) of them were health workers. Symptoms of COVID-19 were typically mild and none went to the ICU. Discussion: These results do not show a clear increased risk of COVID in people with CMT.