The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on psoriasis patients, and their immunosuppressive treatment: a cross-sectional multicenter study from Turkey. (19th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kartal, Selda Pelin; Çelik, Gökçen; Yılmaz, Oğuz; Öksüm Solak, Eda; Demirbağ Gül, Büşra; Üstünbaş, Tuba Kevser; Gönülal, Melis; Baysak, Sevim; Yüksel, Esma İnan; Ünlü, Begüm; Güven, Münevver; Bozdağ, Ali; Çınar, Gökhan; Kartal, Selim; Borlu, Murat; Özden, Müge Güler; Engin, Burhan; Serdaroğlu, Server; Balcı, Didem Didar; Doğan, Bilal; Çiçek, Demet; Yazıcı, Ayça Cordan; Aytekin, Sema; Şendur, Neslihan; Sarıcaoglu, Hayriye; Kaçar, Nida Gelincik; Doğramacı, Asena Cigdem; Dönmez, Levent; Alpsoy, Erkan
• Is Part Of: Journal of dermatological treatment. Volume 33:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 2137
• Page End: 2144
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- psoriasis -- immunosuppressive drugs -- biologics -- treatment adherence; Skin -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Skin Diseases -- drug therapy -- Periodicals; Skin Diseases -- therapy -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2021.1927947
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6634

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Immunosuppressive therapy has been a great concern during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the pandemic's impact on psoriasis patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Material and Methods: The multicenter study was conducted in 14 tertiary dermatology centers. Demographic data, treatment status, disease course, and cases of COVID-19 were evaluated in patients with psoriasis using the immunosuppressive treatment. Results: Of 1827 patients included, the drug adherence rate was 68.2%. Those receiving anti-interleukin (anti-IL) drugs were more likely to continue treatment than patients receiving conventional drugs (OR = 1.50, 95% CI, 1.181–1.895, p = .001). Disease worsening rate was 24.2% and drug dose reduction increased this rate 3.26 and drug withdrawal 8.71 times. Receiving anti-TNF or anti-IL drugs was associated with less disease worsening compared to conventional drugs ( p = .038, p = .032; respectively). Drug withdrawal causes were 'unable to come' (39.6%), 'COVID concern' (25.3%), and 'physician's and patient's co-decision' (17.4%). Four patients had COVID-19 infection with mild symptoms. The incidence was 0.0022% while it was 0.0025% in the general population. Conclusion: Our study shows that psoriasis patients using systemic immunosuppressive do not have a higher, but even lower COVID-19 risk than the general population, and treatment compliance with biological drugs is higher.