Abstract
Background: The aim of this
study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 related treatment delay
on subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) efficacy in patients with allergic
rhinitis (AR).
Methods: The study was performed in 643 patients with SCIT
appointments between February 1 and May 31, 2020. The clinical
assessment, performed at baseline (V0) and one year later (V1), included
visual analogue scale (VAS); daily symptom score (dSS); daily medication
score (dMS); combined symptom and medication scores (CSMS); quality of
life (QoL); self-rating anxiety scale (SAS); and self-rating depression
scale (SDS) for each patient.
Results: At V0, 249 patients were treated on schedule, and 394
were delayed (7 ± 4.68 weeks). Among them, 319 patients (105 on
schedule, and 214 delayed) also completed the assessments at V1, with
the absence of 25.39% patients due to completion of SCIT, and 25.35%
patients were withdrawal. The results of all assessments were within the
normal range for all patients at V0 and V1, with the exception of a
slightly higher SDS score (56.13) at V0. In the SCIT delayed group.
there was a significant positive correlation between the length (weeks)
of the delay and SDS score, and this was significantly higher in
patients with poor control of nasal symptoms.
Conclusions: This study showed the
long-term efficacy of SCIT for AR
patients, including those who have had to delay normal therapy due to
the COVID-19 outbreak. The
psychological status of SCIT patients in response to lockdown of
hospital services during this critical period should be considered.
Key words: COVID-19, clinical manifestation, delayed therapy,
depression, subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)