Observational studyDermatology (Basel, Switzerland)2023
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Recent Earthquake in Zagreb Together Significantly Increased the Disease Severity of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.
Observational study in Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Langerhans cells: Central players in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis.Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV · 2025Review
- Article
- Atopic Dermatitis-Related Problems in Daily Life, Goals of Therapy and Deciding Factors for Systemic Therapy: A Review.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children with atopic dermatitis and food allergy: Systematic review.The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectiveStress may affect patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquake in Zagreb, Croatia (March 2020), on AD patients and their disease severity, symptoms/itch, and perceived stress.
methodsOur observational cross-sectional study included three groups of AD patients diagnosed by a physician: group 1 (n = 50), who experienced both the pandemic (quarantine) and the earthquake; group 2 (n = 50), who experienced only the pandemic; and group 3 (n = 50), the comparison group, who experienced neither disaster (patients examined 2018-2019). Groups 1 and 2 were examined May-June 2020, immediately after the national lockdown/quarantine. Disease severity (SCORAD), data from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and information on patients' confirmed allergies were recorded for all groups, while groups 1 and 2 additionally completed a questionnaire concerning their disease, hand hygiene, and experience during the pandemic and/or earthquake.
resultsThe patients exposed to both disasters reported more pronounced AD worsening (p < 0.001; r = 0.388) and more frequent itching (p < 0.001; r = 0.350) than those exposed to the pandemic only. Notably, we found certain differences by gender: during the pandemic, women significantly more frequently washed their hands (81% of women washed "very frequently," while 52% of men washed "quite often") and had significantly higher PSS levels than men (p < 0.05). Concerning allergies, present or absent, during the pandemic, there was no significant difference in SCORAD between groups 1 and 2, neither when analyzed separately for indoor nor for outdoor allergens. The most commonly reported psychological disturbances during the pandemic were concern (46%), anger (18%), anxiety (16%), depression (9%), and increased alcohol, cigarette, and opioid agent use (6%).
conclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic together with the earthquake significantly increased disease severity and influenced AD worsening, itching, and psychological disturbances. This indicates that stressful events meaningfully affect the course of AD.
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