Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort

Background The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19. Objectives To describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events. Methods Data from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors. Results Among the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%;P<0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P<0.001), and those aged ≥65 years (P=0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P<0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P<0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P=0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P=0.011) and being a current smoker (P=0.046). Conclusions Discontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) – mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) – was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient–physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: Results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events. METHODS: Data from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors. RESULTS: Among the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%; P < 0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001), and those aged ≥ 65 years (P = 0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P < 0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P = 0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P = 0.011) and being a current smoker (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) - mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) - was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient-physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

Réactions cutanées retardées après vaccination contre le SARS-CoV-2 : étude CoVacskin

Introduction: Depuis 2020, environ 12 milliards de doses de vaccins contre le SARS-CoV-2 ont été administrées. Des réactions cutanées retardées localisées ou généralisées ont été rapportées avec une fréquence de près de 2 % après la 1re dose et un risque de récidive de 20 %. Le but de cette étude était de colliger l'expérience française. Matériel et méthodes: De mai à septembre 2021, la SFD a lancé un appel à cas afin de recueillir les réactions cutanées localisées retardées (> 4 jours (j) après l'injection) et généralisées (> 4 h après l'injection) (étude CoVacskin, No APP-2021-17). Un questionnaire standardisé permettait de recueillir antécédents, type de vaccin, numéro de l'injection, type de réaction (liste de diagnostics prédéfinis), traitement et délai de rémission de la réaction. Les photographies et comptes-rendus histologiques étaient analysés par le comité scientifique. Les biopsies étaient relues par 3 dermatopathologistes. Résultats: Au total, 194 cas ont été recueillis pour 192 patients dont 121 femmes, âge médian 54 ans. Ces réactions survenaient dans 88 % après un vaccin de type ARN. Pour 135 cas la réaction cutanée survenait après la 1re dose. Le délai médian injection-réaction était de 2,6 j. Quarante-huit réactions localisées retardées (24,7 %) étaient rapportées et 146 réactions généralisées sans réaction localisée (75,3 %), incluant urticaires ou angioedèmes, eczémas, exanthèmes maculopapuleux, purpura, réactions au produit de comblement, livedos, pseudo-engelures et 66 cas classés « autres » La relecture des photographies confirmait le diagnostic proposé par le clinicien pour 49/66 « autres ». Parmi les 17 cas restants, 2 tableaux anatomocliniques spécifiques ont été identifiés (13 avec biopsies cutanées disponibles): chez 5 patients, le tableau « Syndrome de Sweet-like » associait des lésions cliniques évocatrices de syndrome de Sweet (SS), un bilan étiologique négatif et histologiquement un SS « classique » ou histiocytoïde. Le deuxième tableau, chez 7 patients, jamais décrit antérieurement, nommé « Covid-arm multiples » était caractérisé par de multiples plaques inflammatoires et une histologie identique aux lésions cutanées localisées type « Covid-arm » (infiltrat péri-vasculaire et interstitiel de lymphocytes et éosinophiles, spongiose). Le délai de guérison moyen était de 21,4 j, spontanément dans 24,2 %. Une nouvelle injection de vaccin était administrée dans 117 cas, le plus souvent sans récidive (67,5 %). Discussion: Cette étude confirme les données de la littérature avec des réactions cutanées retardées prédominant chez les femmes, surtout après la 1ère dose, en majorité généralisées, hétérogènes, mais le plus souvent bénignes, incluant deux tableaux anatomocliniques originaux. Ces réactions étaient résolutives souvent en moins d'un mois, récidivaient peu, et ne contre-indiquaient donc pas la poursuite du schéma vaccinal.