Psoriasis healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey among psoriasis patients (PsoCovidCare)

Abstract

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, psoriasis care underwent significant changes in consultation methods and treatment management. However, comprehensive data on these changes and patient perceptions are limited.Aims To evaluate the pandemic’s implications on psoriasis patients, focusing on access to information, consultation methods, patient satisfaction, disease control assessment, and treatment management changes.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional survey was performed in psoriasis patients from 4 dutch hospitals during the second wave of the pandemic.Results Among 551 respondents, approximately 55% received information their treatment in relation to COVID-19 from their treating physician, while 16.3% sought information online. Consultation methods were shifted to remote formats for 43.6% of patients, primarily via phone and the shift was often initiated by physicians. Overall patient satisfaction during the pandemic scored high (8.0), with remote consultations scoring between 8.0–9.0. Patients on biological treatment reported better disease control (8.0), compared to those on topical (6.0) or conventional systemic treatments (7.0). However, within the systemic treatment group and biologics group, a notable percentage interrupted (16.3% resp. 12.9%) or discontinued treatment (14.1 resp. 10.6%) during the pandemic. Disease control was moderate-to-good assessed by 75% of patients receiving face-to-face and 68% receiving remote consultations.Conclusion Remote care appears to be a viable alternative to face-to-face consultations, with potential benefits in enhancing access to information provided by treating physicians.

Keywords

• SARS-COV-2
• COVID-19
• psoriasis
• biologics
• remote care