Allergic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic—Clinical practical considerations: An European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology survey

TY - JOUR

T1 - Allergic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic—Clinical practical considerations

T2 - An European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology survey

AU - Alvaro-Lozano, Montserrat

AU - Sandoval-Ruballos, Mónica

AU - Giovannini, Mattia

AU - Jensen-Jarolim, Erika

AU - Sahiner, Umit

AU - Tomic Spiric, Vesna

AU - Quecchia, Cristina

AU - Chaker, Adam

AU - Heffler, Enrico

AU - Klimek, Ludger

AU - Brough, Helen

AU - Sturm, Gunter

AU - Untersmayr, Eva

AU - Bonini, Mateo

AU - Pfaar, Oliver

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank all staff members of the EAACI headquarters and specially Anna Gandaglia as well as all health care professionals who kindly supported the survey and took the time to share their valuable experience during the pandemic. This research received funding support from the EAACI. This research did not receive any specific grant from other funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not‐for‐profit sectors. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care systems unexpectedly. However, data focusing on practical considerations experienced by health care professionals (HCPs) providing care to allergic patients is scarce. Methods: Under the framework of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), a panel of experts in the field of immunotherapy developed a 42-question online survey, to evaluate real-life consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in allergy practice. Results: The respondents in the survey were 618. About 80% of HCPs indicated being significantly affected in their allergy practice. A face-to-face visit reduction was reported by 93% of HCPs and about a quarter completely interrupted diagnostic challenges. Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma (59%) and anaphylaxis (47%) were prioritized for in-person care. About 81% maintained an unaltered prescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthmatics. About 90% did not modify intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) in patients with allergic rhinitis. Nearly half of respondents kept biological prescriptions unmodified for asthma. About 50% of respondents kept their allergen immunotherapy (AIT) prescription patterns unchanged for respiratory allergies; 60% for insect venom allergies. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies was initiated by 27%. About 20% kept carrying out up-dosing without modifications and 14% changed to more prolonged intervals. Telemedicine practice was increased. Conclusions: HCPs providing care to allergic patients were affected during the pandemic in diagnostic, management, and therapeutic approaches, including AIT for respiratory, insect-venom, and food allergies. Most HCPs maintained controller treatments for both asthma, and allergic rhinitis consistent with international recommendations, as well as biological agents in asthma. Remote tools are valuable in delivering allergy care.

AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care systems unexpectedly. However, data focusing on practical considerations experienced by health care professionals (HCPs) providing care to allergic patients is scarce. Methods: Under the framework of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), a panel of experts in the field of immunotherapy developed a 42-question online survey, to evaluate real-life consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in allergy practice. Results: The respondents in the survey were 618. About 80% of HCPs indicated being significantly affected in their allergy practice. A face-to-face visit reduction was reported by 93% of HCPs and about a quarter completely interrupted diagnostic challenges. Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma (59%) and anaphylaxis (47%) were prioritized for in-person care. About 81% maintained an unaltered prescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthmatics. About 90% did not modify intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) in patients with allergic rhinitis. Nearly half of respondents kept biological prescriptions unmodified for asthma. About 50% of respondents kept their allergen immunotherapy (AIT) prescription patterns unchanged for respiratory allergies; 60% for insect venom allergies. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies was initiated by 27%. About 20% kept carrying out up-dosing without modifications and 14% changed to more prolonged intervals. Telemedicine practice was increased. Conclusions: HCPs providing care to allergic patients were affected during the pandemic in diagnostic, management, and therapeutic approaches, including AIT for respiratory, insect-venom, and food allergies. Most HCPs maintained controller treatments for both asthma, and allergic rhinitis consistent with international recommendations, as well as biological agents in asthma. Remote tools are valuable in delivering allergy care.

KW - allergen-immuntherapie

KW - allergie

KW - biologika

KW - COVID-19

KW - umfrage

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123791413&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/clt2.12097

DO - 10.1002/clt2.12097

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85123791413

SN - 2045-7022

VL - 12

JO - Clinical and translational allergy

JF - Clinical and translational allergy

IS - 1

M1 - e12097

ER -