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Change in Allergy Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Ozturk, Ayse Bilge; Baççioglu, Ayse; Soyer, Ozge; Civelek, Ersoy; Sekerel, Bülent Enis; Bavbek, Sevim.
  • Ozturk AB; Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Baççioglu A; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Chest Diseases, School of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkkale, Turkey.
  • Soyer O; Department of Pediatric Allergy, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Civelek E; Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Sekerel BE; Department of Pediatric Allergy, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Bavbek S; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, bavbek@medicine.ankara.edu.tr.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol ; 182(1): 49-52, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-873646
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

International guidelines in asthma and allergy has been updated for COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic has caused dramatic changes in allergy and immunology services. However, it is not known whether specialty-specific recommendations for COVID-19 are followed by allergists.

OBJECTIVES:

By conducting this study, we aimed to determine the attitudes and experiences of adult/pediatric allergists on allergy management during COVID-19.

METHOD:

We used a 20-question survey to elicit data from allergists (residents and pediatric and adult allergists registered to the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) across Turkey via e-mail. We analyzed the data statistically for frequency distributions and descriptive analysis.

RESULTS:

A total of 183 allergists participated in the survey. Telemedicine was used for management of asthma (73%), allergic rhinitis (53%), atopic dermatitis (51%), chronic urticaria/angioedema (59%), drug hypersensitivity (45%), food allergy (48%), venom allergy (30%), anaphylaxis (22%), and hereditary angioedema (28%). Thirty-one percent of the respondents discontinued subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-four percent of the physicians reported interruption of systemic steroid use in asthma patients, and 25% of the respondents discontinued biological therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

Allergists in Turkey have been using telemedicine at a high rate during the COVID-19 pandemic for asthma and rhinitis. The continuation rate of SCIT was low while the discontinuation rate of biologicals and systemic steroid use in asthma was high in Turkey.Our study results and learning from the experiences of other countries and specialties may help to optimize allergy practice and compatibility with international guidelines.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Hypersensitivity Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Int Arch Allergy Immunol Journal subject: Allergy and Immunology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 000512079

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Hypersensitivity Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Int Arch Allergy Immunol Journal subject: Allergy and Immunology Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 000512079