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. 2021 Feb;14(2):100515.
doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100515. Epub 2021 Jan 31.

Allergy and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) international survey: Real-life data from the allergy community during the pandemic

Luciana Kase Tanno  1   2   3   4 , Pascal Demoly  2   3   4 , Bryan Martin  5 , Jonathan Berstein  6 , Mario Morais-Almeida  7 , Michael Levin  8 , Alessandro Fiocchi  9 , Mario Sánchez-Borges  10 , Luis R Caraballo  11 , Gary Wong  12 , José Antonio Ortega-Martell  13 , Philip Rouadi  14 , Anahí Yáñez  15 , Liang Lu Wang  16 , David B Peden  17 , Manana Chikhladze  18 , Sandra N González-Díaz  19 , Jean-François Fontaine  20 , James Sublett  21 , Yoon-Seok Chang  22 , Giovanni Passalacqua  23 , Ignacio J Ansotegui  24 , Motohiro Ebisawa  25 , Gianenrico Senna  26 , Marco Caminati  26   27
Affiliations

Allergy and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) international survey: Real-life data from the allergy community during the pandemic

Luciana Kase Tanno et al. World Allergy Organ J. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak brought an unprecedented challenge to the world. Knowledge in the field has been increasing exponentially and the main allergy societies have produced guidance documents for better management of allergic patients during this period. However, few publications so far have provided real-life data from the allergy community concerning allergy practice during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we proposed an international survey on the management of allergic patients during the current pandemic.

Methods: We performed an online survey undertaken to reach out the worldwide allergy community by e-mail and social media. The web-based questionnaire contained 24 questions covering demographic data from the participants, clinical practice during this period, and questions related to the new international classification and coding tools addressed for COVID-19. It was circulated for 8 weeks and had anonymous and volunteer context.

Results: Data are presented for 635 participants from 78 countries of all continents. Allergists with long-term professional experience were the main audience. As expected, we received many responses as "I have no data" or "I don't know" to the questions of the survey. However, most with more experience on managing allergic patients during the pandemic agreed that patients suffering from allergic or hypersensitivity conditions have no increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or developing SARS CoV-2. Also, participants mentioned that none of the allergy treatments (inhaled corticosteroids, allergen immunotherapy, biological agents) increased the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection including severe presentations.

Conclusion: The data presented are a starting point in the process of getting feedback on all the recommendations provided by the allergy societies; it could also be the basis of new strategies to support health professionals while new COVID-19 specific treatments and vaccines are being explored. The information here presented intends to be helpful to the community but represents a course of action in a highly specific situation due to the state of emergency, and it should be helpful to health systems.

Keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; Allergy; Asthma; Biological agents; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Inhaled steroids; Prevention; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have conflict of interests related to the contents of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
World Health Organization report per region based on confirmed COVID-19 cases (18 July 2020) aligned with responses to the Allergy & COVID-19 international survey
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Implementation and effectivity of telemedicine according to the Allergy & COVID-19 international survey (NA= North America, LA = Latin America, EU = Europe, AFR/ME = Africa and Middle East, AP = Asia Pacific)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Allergy & COVID-19 survey. Number of responses per world region (NA= North America, LA = Latin America, EU = Europe, AFR/ME = Africa and Middle East, AP = Asia Pacific)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Experience of participants of the Allergy & COVID-19 international survey: risk of severe symptoms and treatments used by the allergy community (NA= North America, LA = Latin America, EU = Europe, AFR/ME = Africa and Middle East, AP = Asia Pacific)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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