RECEP YILMAZ SERDAR SEZER AHMET İLBAY NİLGÜN GÖVEÇ GIYNAŞ EMİNE GÖZDE AYDEMİR GÜLÖKSÜZ ABDULBAKİ GAYDAN KÜBRA GÜNEŞ MÜÇTEBA ENES YAYLA EMİNE USLU YURTERİ TAHSİN MURAT TURGAY AŞKIN ATEŞ GÜLAY KINIKLI
Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası - 2023;76(3):206-212
Objectives: Behçet’s disease is a vasculitis of unknown cause that can affect many systems, especially the skin, mucosa, joint and eyes. In this study, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and vaccination status in Behçet’s patients were examined. The relationship between the characteristics of Behçet’s patients and the data related to COVID-19 was investigated. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and three Behçet’s patients were randomly included in this study. The vaccination status of the patients and the type of COVID-19 vaccine administered were questioned. Whether the patients had COVID-19 and the disease process were examined. Behçet’s patients with a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test were considered to have had the disease. Results: The mean age was 46.3 (±12.3) years, 40.6% were male, and the age at diagnosis was 30.4 (±9.1) years. COVID-19 PCR test positivity was detected in 132 (43.5%) of the patients. It was observed that 72% (n=95) of the patients with test positivity were symptomatic and the hospitalization rate was 3%. It was observed that Behçet’s patients who had COVID-19 had less central nervous system involvement than those who did not (p=0.01). No significant correlation was found between other clinical manifestations of Behçet’s disease, age, gender, and the age at diagnosis of the disease, and the history of having COVID-19. The rate of COVID-19 vaccination in Behçet’s patients was 92.1% for the first dose, 89.4% for the second dose, and 60% for the third dose. It was observed that the Biontech vaccine was administered more frequently than other types of vaccines. It was detected that the number of COVID-19 vaccinations was significantly higher in the group that did not have COVID-19 (p=0.003). Conclusion: In this study, although the rate of COVID-19 disease was high in Behçet’s patients, the rate of hospitalization was low. The importance of COVID-19 vaccination was emphasized.
