Musculoskeletal Manifestations of COVID-19: A Cross Sectional Study in Egyptian Patients

Objectives : We conducted this cross-sectional study to explore the relation between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and frequency of musculoskeletal manifestations and the possible cause of rheumatoid arthritis as one of the autoimmune diseases. Background : COVID-19 has the capability to trigger the immune response and induce cytokine release, which is directly linked to musculoskeletal pain initiation, besides fever and cough. Patients and methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted among a number of 120 critically hospitalized Egyptian patients and home-isolated patients proved positive for COVID-19 tested with RT-PCR aged 20 e 70 years. These patients were drawn randomly in the period from March 2020 to July 2020. Clinical assessments were done by sociodemographic data, assessment of musculoskeletal system, and severity of COVID symptoms. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results : The characteristic features of patients with COVID-19 were fever (48.3%), fatigue (80.8%), myalgia (72%), and arthralgia (60%). Some patients developed peripheral neuritis (54%), neck pain in 40.0% of patients, Guillain e Barr (cid:1) e in 31.7%, back pain in 29%, and rheumatoid arthritis in 24.2%. Conclusion : COVID-19 may be manifested by musculoskeletal manifestation and rheumatoid arthritis as one of the autoimmune diseases.