Comparison of vaccination responders and non-responders among patients with AIRD taking MTX
| Responders* (n=55) | Non-responders (n=9) | P value† | |
| Age, mean (SD) | 59.5 (12.9) | 70.3 (6.67) | 0.001 |
| Female, n (%) | 42 (76.4) | 3 (33.3) | 0.010 |
| BMI, mean (SD) | 25.4 (4.09) | 26.6 (3.70) | 0.389 |
| Medication | 0.616 | ||
| MTX-mono, n (%) | 23 (41.8) | 3 (33.3) | |
| MTX+prednisolone, n (%) | 8 (14.5) | 4 (44.4) | |
| MTX+anti-TNF-α, n (%)‡ | 10 (18.2) | 1 (11.1) | |
| MTX+anti-TNF-α+prednisolone, n (%)‡ | 6 (10.9) | 1 (11.1) | |
| MTX+HCQ, n (%) | 2 (3.6) | 0 | |
| MTX+leflunomide, n (%)§ | 3 (5.5) | 0 | |
| MTX+anti-IL-17, n (%)¶ | 2 (3.6) | 0 | |
| MTX+anti-IL-12/IL-23, n (%)** | 1 (1.8) | 0 | |
| MTX dose (mg/week), mean (SD) | 13.0 (4.29) | 14.2 (4.33) | 0.469 |
| MTX oral application, n (%) | 25 (45.5) | 1 (11.1) | 0.057 |
| Additional prednisolone, n (%) | 15 (27.3) | 5 (55.6) | 0.103 |
| Prednisolone dose (mg/day), mean (SD) | 2.5 (1.4) | 3.8 (1.6) | 0.174 |
| Vaccination | 0.609 | ||
| BNT162b2, n (%) | 39 (70.9) | 8 (88.9) | |
| mRNA-1273, n (%) | 7 (12.7) | 1 (11.1) | |
| AZD1222, n (%) | 7 (12.7) | 0 | |
| AZD1222+BNT162b2, n (%) | 2 (3.6) | 0 | |
| Vaccine interval in days, mean (SD) | 42 (15) | 31 (9) | 0.011 |
| Days from second vaccination, mean (SD) | 30 (22) | 40 (22) | 0.259 |
| MTX-hold, n (%) | 30 (54.5) | 1 (11.1) | 0.017 |
| For both vaccinations, n | 23 (41.8) | 1 (11.1) | |
| For only the first vaccination, n | 2 (3.6) | 0 | |
| For only the second vaccination, n | 5 (9.0) | 0 |
*Defined by neutralising capacity against SARS-CoV-2 ≥30%.
†P values were calculated using the exact unconditional z-pooled test for binary variables (female, MTX oral application, additional prednisolone, MTX-hold), χ² test for categorical variables (medication, vaccination) and unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction for continuous variables.
‡Adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab.
§Additional low-dose prednisolone for n=1.
¶Secukinumab.
**Ustekinumab.
AIRD, autoimmune rheumatic diseases; BMI, body mass index; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; IL, interleukin; MTX, methotrexate; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.