Mortality related to COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, first wave of the outbreak: a single-center study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cause-specific mortality rate related to COVID-19 (CMR) in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and COVID-19 and to analyze the role of the different RMDs in their mortality risk.

Methods: An observational longitudinal study was conducted during the first pandemic wave in our center. Patients with the diagnosis of RMDs and COVID-19 were included.