The Characteristics of COVID-19 Symptoms and Skin Manifestations among Nonhospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Psoriasis during the Omicron Pandemic in China: A Single-Center Survey-Based Study

Abstract

Background. The global impact of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has raised concerns about the management of psoriasis patients, especially among those using biologics. Methods. We conducted a survey-based research among Omicron-infected (confirmed, probable, and suspected ones) psoriasis patients in the department of dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from January 9th to January 22nd, 2023. We collected demographic and clinical information (psoriasis- and COVID-19-related) and conducted statistics analysis. Results. Of the 240 patients enrolled, they were classified by the psoriatic treatment, as biologics (n = 138), nonbiological systematic treatment (n = 52), and topical treatment or without pharmacological treatment (n = 50). This study showed the characteristics of Omicron-related symptoms and cutaneous signs in patients. We observed that patients who received topical treatment or without pharmacological treatment had a lower risk of presenting with COVID-19 symptoms in the fully adjusted logistic model (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18–0.90, and P=0.025). Moreover, in the model for skin manifestations, nonbiological systematic treatment (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.08–4.27, and P=0.029) and high BMI (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00–1.20, and P=0.042) were correlative factors. Conclusions. Our data suggested that differential psoriatic treatment might be a correlative factor in developing symptomatic or asymptomatic Omicron infection and presenting cutaneous signs.