Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatology Outpatient Department at a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern China: A Pre-Post Study

The study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dermatology outpatient diagnoses in eastern China, comparing data from 67,994 patients in 2019 and 67,288 patients in 2021. While the average number of yearly visits remained relatively stable, the distribution of diagnoses changed significantly. Post-pandemic, there was an increase in diagnoses of acne, animal-related diseases, allergic dermatitis, insect dermatitis, alopecia, and verruca vulgaris. The findings suggested that although the pandemic minimally affected the number of visits, it altered the types of dermatological conditions presented, indicating a need for governments and health departments to adapt medical care and training accordingly.