Aeroallergen immunotherapy during covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: Subcutaneous immunotherapy with aeroallergen (SCITA) was stopped in some departments during the lock-down period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of SCITA interruption on symptoms, the need for control medication, the quality of life, and the expectations and degree of safety / fear of patients on returning to the hospi-tal. Methods: Self-completion of an anonymous survey for patients over 12 years in the first 5 weeks of SCITA restart. CARAT was used as an instrument to assess rhinitis and asthma control. Results: 77 patients (90% adults, 68% women) were included, all with rhinitis and 40% with asthma. The average time interval between the last administration and the restart of SCITA was 13 ± 2.48 weeks. Seven percent of patients were seen in an emergency / unscheduled appointment due to the exacerbation of respiratory symptoms and only 1 had COVID-19. CARAT-Total scores showed control of rhinitis and asthma, respectively, in 35% and 66% patients. The proportion of uncontrolled patients rised with the increase in the SCITA interruption period (IP). The majority (> 90%) of patients reported no significant impact on their quality of life and maintained the usual control medication (48%), expressed concern about losing the benefits of SCITA with its interruption (62%) and reported feeling safer in the vaccination offices compared to the hospital building or waiting room. Conclusions: An increase in the frequency of uncontrolled patients with an increase in IP was observed. For most patients, the IP did not have a significant impact on quality of life. The frequency of patients who needed to be observed in an emergency / unscheduled appointment was low and only 1 reported having had COVID-19. The perception of safety in the vaccination room is higher than in the hospital’s common spaces. © 2021 Sociedade Portuguesa de Alergologia e Imunologia Clínica. Published by Publicações Ciência & Vida.