key: cord-0719071-jt3yltr7
authors: Schauer, Franziska; Behrens, Max; Müller, Sabine; Meiss, Frank; Kiritsi, Dimitra
title: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalizations of patients with moderate to severe skin diseases: A retrospective cohort analysis from a Central European Center
date: 2021-09-22
journal: J Am Acad Dermatol
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.09.032
sha: 7848cf533223df5fd66f7aa2b991ce770cc89ca3
doc_id: 719071
cord_uid: jt3yltr7

nan

Germany, near Italy, led to COVID-19 cases starting in February 2020. Evidence shows that 56 the elderly and those with comorbidities are more vulnerable for severe SARS-CoV2 disease 57 with higher mortality rates. We evaluated the impact of the pandemic on dermatologic patients 58 including both inpatients and day hospital outpatients throughout 2020 compared to 2019. We (table 1) . Proportionally, admissions below age 65 67 decreased, while those above 65 increased to 58% of all hospitalizations (p=1.000, table 1). 68

We had less admissions of patients with inflammatory skin diseases (e.g. eczema/psoriasis) 69 and patients with lower leg ulcers (p<0.001*). Interestingly, patients admitted with herpes 70 zoster as main diagnosis, receiving intravenous treatment as per German guidelines, 71 increased by 52% (p<0.05*) and were recorded throughout the year, possibly induced by 72 stress-associated immunosuppression (3). We specifically aimed at not postponing 73 admissions for oncologic patients (4), but reduced outpatient assessments could have led to 74 delays. Although there were no differences in mean T stages in melanoma patients, we 75 intensity. We had a 6% decline in day hospital visits and reduced patient numbers (both 81 p<0.001*) in almost all diagnosis groups (table 2) . We also noticed around 30% less day 82 hospital visits for patients with epidermolysis bullosa (p=1.000), a rare inherited skin fragility 83 disease treated at our Skin Fragility Center, a specialized day hospital (table 2) 

Bullous pemphigoid (L12) 6 ( 0.7) 9 ( 1.3) 1.000

Skin diseases in hospitalized geriatrics: a 9-year analysis from a 96 University Dermatology Center in Germany

COVID-19 pandemic: Historically low bed occupance rate

Perceived psychological stress and risk 100 of herpes zoster: a nationwide population-based cohort study

The magnitude 102 of COVID-19's effect on the timely management of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers

Retrospective study of trends in dermatology telemedicine and 105 in-person visits at an academic center during COVID-19