engleski

How did COVID-19 quarantine affect patients with atopic dermatitis?

The current outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on the psychological stress and mental health, especially on those prone to mental disorders and those suffering from various chronic diseases. Most of these are a consequence of the newly introduced measures, especially quarantine and its effects on daily activities and routines, or chronic disease. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic allergic complex skin disease, influenced by a number of factors, including psychological stress. According to literature, psychological stress affects the function of a person' s neuroendocrine and immune systems, resulting in changes to the skin' s epidermal barrier function. In Croatia, in March, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lockdown was instituted with mandatory social isolation in quarantine. In addition, on 22 March, 2020 at 6:24 A.M. Zagreb, experienced a 5.3 magnitude earthquake and 57 aftershocks in the 24 hours following. So, we wanted to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on psychological stress levels and disease severity in AD patients. In this cross-sectional study, data from 100 AD patients who experienced the quarantine and the pandemic were analyzed. Therefore, half of the patients experienced the earthquake in Zagreb, too. The patients' data on Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and disease severity (SCORAD) and their answers from our newly designed questionnaire on disease-related behaviors and AD condition during the pandemic and quarantine were examined and statistically analyzed. The subjects that experienced both disasters had a greater PSS than those experiencing only the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the women. Also, 59% patients reported psychological stress during the pandemic, caused by: possibility of an infection (31%), work (23%), general pandemic- related conditions (17%), survival (11%) and other (6%). Since the study results confirmed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquake on stress levels in AD patients, specific approach of the patients are needed.

COVID-19 ; quarantine ; atopic dermatitis

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