Cluster analysis reveals three main patterns of beliefs and intention with respect to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

Renaud Felten, Maxime Dubois, Manuel F. Ugarte-Gil, Aurore Chaudier, Lou Kawka, Hugo Bergier, Charlotte Costecalde, Luc Pijnenburg, Jérémy Fort, Emmanuel Chatelus, Christelle Sordet, Rose Marie Javier, Jacques Eric Gottenberg, Jean Sibilia, Yurilis J. Fuentes-Silva, Laurent Arnaud

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand the underlying behavioural determinants of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). We aimed to analyse patterns of beliefs and intention regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in AIIRD patients, as a mean of identifying pragmatic actions that could be taken to increase vaccine coverage in this population. Methods: Data relating to 1258 AIIRD patients were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, to identify variables associated independently with willingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Subsets of patients showing similar beliefs and intention about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were characterized using cluster analysis. Results: Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three distinct clusters of AIIRD patients. Three predominant patient attitudes to SARS-COV-2 vaccination were identified: voluntary, hesitant and suspicious. While vaccine willingness differed significantly across the three clusters (P < 0.0001), there was no significant difference regarding fear of getting COVID-19 (P = 0.11), the presence of comorbidities (P = 0.23), the use of glucocorticoids (P = 0.21), or immunocompromised status (P = 0.63). However, patients from cluster #2 (hesitant) and #3 (suspicious) were significantly more concerned about vaccination, the use of a new vaccine technology, lack of long-term data in relation to COVID-19 vaccination, and potential financial links with pharmaceutical companies (P < 0.0001 in all) than patients from cluster #1 (voluntary). Discussion: Importantly, the differences between clusters in terms of patient beliefs and intention was not related to the fear of getting COVID-19 or to any state of frailty, but was related to specific concerns about vaccination. This study may serve as a basis for improved communication and thus help increase COVID-19 vaccine coverage among AIIRD patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)SI68-SI76
JournalRheumatology
Volume60
Issue numberSI
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • autoimmune diseases
  • behaviour
  • cluster analysis
  • inflammatory rheumatic diseases
  • vaccination

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