The global impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the management and course of chronic urticaria
Authors: Kocatürk Emek , Salman Andaç , Cherrez‐Ojeda Ivan , Criado Paulo Ricardo , Peter Jonny , Comert‐Ozer Elif , Abuzakouk Mohamed , Agondi Rosana Câmara , Al‐Ahmad Mona , Altrichter Sabine , Arnaout Rand , Arruda Luisa Karla , Asero Riccardo , Bauer Andrea , Ben‐Shoshan Moshe , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Bizjak Mojca , Boccon‐Gibod Isabelle , Bonnekoh Hanna , Bouillet Laurence , Brzoza Zenon , Busse Paula , Campos Regis A , Carne Emily , Conlon Niall , Criado Roberta F. , de Souza Lima Eduardo M. , Demir Semra , Dissemond Joachim , Doğan Günaydın Sibel , Dorofeeva Irina , Ensina Luis Felipe , Ertaş Ragıp , Ferrucci Silvia Mariel , Figueras‐Nart Ignasi , Fomina Daria , Franken Sylvie M , Fukunaga Atsushi , Giménez‐Arnau Ana M. , Godse Kiran , Gonçalo Margarida , Gotua Maia , Grattan Clive , Guillet Carole , Inomata Naoko , Jakob Thilo , Karakaya Gul , Kasperska‐Zając Alicja , Katelaris Constance H , Košnik Mitja , Krasowska Dorota , Kulthanan Kanokvalai , Kumaran M. Sendhil , Lang Claudia , Larco‐Sousa José Ignacio , Lazaridou Elisavet , Leslie Tabi Anika , Lippert Undine , llosa Oscar Calderón , Makris Michael , Marsland Alexander , Medina Iris V. , Meshkova Raisa , Palitot Esther Bastos , Parisi Claudio A.S. , Pickert Julia , Ramon German D. , Rodríguez‐Gonzalez Mónica , Rosario Nelson , Rudenko Michael , Rutkowski Krzysztof , Sánchez Jorge , Schliemann Sibylle , Sekerel Bulent Enis , Serpa Faradiba S. , Serra‐Baldrich Esther , Song Zhiqiang , Soria Angèle , Staevska Maria , Staubach Petra , Tagka Anna , Takahagi Shunsuke , Thomsen Simon Francis , Treudler Regina , Vadasz Zahava , Valle Solange Oliveira Rodrigues , Van Doorn Martijn B.A. , Vestergaard Christian , Wagner Nicola , Wang Dahu , Wang Liangchun , Wedi Bettina , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Yücel Esra , Zalewska‐Janowska Anna , Zhao Zuotao , Zuberbier Torsten , Maurer Marcus 
Published: December 2020

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.