COVID-19 infection in patients on long-term home parenteral nutrition for chronic intestinal failure

International audienceRationale: To investigate the incidence and the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients on long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for chronic intestinal failure (CIF).Methods: Period of observation, from March 1st 2020 to March 1st 2021. Inclusion criteria: patients included in the database since 2015 and still on HPN on March 1st 2020; patients included in the database during the period of observation. Data recorded on March 1st 2021: 1) occurrence of infection since the beginning of pandemic (yes, no, unknown); 2) infection syndrome (asymptomatic, mild-no hospitalization, moderate-hospitalization no-ICU, severe-hospitalization in ICU); 3) vaccination (yes, no, unknown); 4) patient outcome at March 1st 2021: still on HPN, weaned form HPN, deceased, lost to follow up. Statistics by Pearson Chi-Square.Results: 68 centres from 23 countries included 4680 patients; COVID-19 data were available for 55.1% of patients. The cumulative incidence of infection was 9.7% in the total group and ranged from 0% to 21.9% among countries. Infection syndrome was asymptomatic 26.7%, mild 32.0%, moderate 36.0%, severe 5.2%. Vaccination status was unknown 62.0%, non-vaccinated 25.2%, vaccinated 12.8%. Infection rate was lower in pediatric patients (p=0.03) and in those with cancer (p=0.03). In the group of the deceased patients, a higher incidence of infection (p=0.04), a more severe degree of infection syndrome (p<0.001) and a lower percentage of vaccination (p=0.01) were observed.Conclusion: In patients with CIF, the incidence of COVID-19 infection differed greatly among countries and was asymptomatic or with mild symptoms in most cases. COVID infection, severity of infection and vaccination status were associated with a higher risk of death