April 15, 2020
The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance is an international grassroots organization, formed by rheumatologists and patients with autoimmune disease, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Their goal is to help rheumatologists improve patient care by generating and disseminating data about patients with autoimmune disease who have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. The Alliance is endorsed by the American College of Rheumatology, European League Against Rheumatism, International League of Associations for Rheumatology, and over 200 other professional and patient organizations.
The Alliance has implemented international registries for health care providers to enter data about their adult and pediatric rheumatology patients who have the COVID-19 virus. A patient experience survey has also been created for adults with rheumatic diseases and parents of children with rheumatic diseases.
Beth Wallace, MD, MSc, Clinical Lecturer in the Division of Rheumatology, has been selected to lead the health care provider registry for the region. Dr. Wallace is also a Staff Rheumatologist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare Center, and a member of the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and the VA Center for Clinical Management Research.
“The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance showcases the strength, commitment, and cooperation of our international rheumatology community," said Dr. Wallace. "It was founded not by a top-down mandate, nor by any individual researcher or group, but through open collaboration between doctors and patients who seek to improve clinical care. Building on the diverse strengths of its members, the Alliance has the transparency, expertise, and flexibility needed to help make a difference in the lives of our patients.”
Other Alliance initiatives include:
- Systematic literature reviews to evaluate evidence related to immunomodulatory medications as potential COVID-19 treatments and presentation and impact of COVID-19 on patients with autoimmune disease
- A multicenter cohort study evaluating the effect of Hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 occurrence and severity
For more information, please visit the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance.
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