According to researchers in Italy, there is no evidence that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving systemic treatments have a higher risk of contracting Covid-19.
Additionally, the study published online ahead of print in the journal Vaccines (Dec. 2, 2020) found patients receiving treatments, including biologics, did not have an increased risk of hospitalization or death related to Covid-19 compared to the general population.
“Several case reports described full recovery from Covid-19 with favourable outcomes in psoriasis patients who were treated with synthetics or biologicals,” the study’s authors wrote.
The researchers note that approximately one-third of psoriasis patients are candidates for systemic immunosuppressive treatments—such as synthetic or biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic therapies—because of disease extensions, localization in sensitive or visible areas or resistance to topical treatments.
These therapies have been associated with an increased risk of infection, including upper respiratory tract viral infection. Psoriasis is frequently associated with cardio-metabolic comorbidities, such as obesity and diabetes, that are risk factors for poor prognosis in patients who contract coronavirus.
The study’s authors conducted a narrative review of the literature based on an electronic search of the PubMed database to investigate whether there is an increased risk of Covid-19 infection in psoriasis patients on systemic treatment. Original articles such as case reports published up to Nov. 1 2020 were included.
While they found no evidence that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving systemic treatments have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the study’s investigators suggest caution should be maintained and more data is required to draw definitive conclusions.