Emek Kocatürk (Author), Andaç Salman (Author), Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda (Author), Paulo Ricardo Criado (Author), Jonny Peter (Author), Elif Comert-Ozer (Author), Mohamed Abuzakouk (Author), Rosana Câmara Agondi (Author), Mona Al-Ahmad (Author), Sabine Altrichter (Author), Mojca Bizjak (Author), Mitja Košnik (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care around the globe. The impact of the pandemic on chronic urticaria (CU) and its management are largely unknown. Aim: To understand how CU patients are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; how specialists alter CU patient management; and the course of CU in patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: Our cross-sectional, international, questionnaire-based, multicenter UCARE COVID-CU study assessed the impact of the pandemic on patient consultations, remote treatment, changes in medications, and clinical consequences. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impairs CU patient care, with less than 50% of the weekly numbers of patients treated as compared to before the pandemic. Reduced patient referrals and clinic hours were the major reasons. Almost half of responding UCARE physicians were involved in COVID-19 patient care, which negatively impacted on the care of urticaria patients. The rate of face-to-face consultations decreased by 62%, from 90% to less than half, whereas the rate of remote consultations increased by more than 600%, from one in 10 to more than two thirds. Cyclosporine and systemic corticosteroids, but not antihistamines or omalizumab, are used less during the pandemic. CU does not affect the course of COVID-19, but COVID-19 results in CU exacerbation in one of three patients, with higher rates in patients with severe COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic brings major changes and challenges for CU patients and their physicians. The long-term consequences of these changes, especially the increased use of remote consultations, require careful evaluation.

Keywords

covid-19;SARS-CoV-2;UCARE;zdravljenje;COVID-19;treatment;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
UDC: 616-097
COBISS: 42049795 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1398-9995
Views: 848
Downloads: 194
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
Metadata: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Other data

Secondary keywords: Chronic urticaria;Pandemics;Omalizumab;Cyclosporine;Kronična urtikarija;Pandemije;Ciklosporin;
Source comment: Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorja iz Slovenije: Mojca Bizjak, Mitja Košnik; Opis vira z dne 10. 12. 2020;
Pages: str. 816-830
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ76
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ3
Chronology: Mar. 2021
DOI: 10.1111/ALL.14687
ID: 12255936