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

November 2022 in “ Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology ”

Ting Yan, Chengming Shao, Minjie Zhang, Yongxing Ge, Tingting Chen, Dayang Chai

acne allergic dermatitis insect dermatitis alopecia verruca vulgaris hair loss warts

TLDR The pandemic changed the types of skin conditions seen, not the number of visits.

The study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dermatology outpatient visits at a tertiary hospital in Eastern China, comparing data from 67,994 patients in 2019 and 67,288 in 2021. It found that while the overall number of visits remained stable, the distribution of dermatological diagnoses changed significantly. There was an increase in diagnoses of acne, alopecia, allergic dermatitis, insect dermatitis, and verruca vulgaris post-pandemic, likely due to increased stress and lifestyle changes. The study emphasized the need for healthcare systems to adapt by providing psychological support and adjusting medical care practices. Limitations included its retrospective nature, single-center focus, and lack of data on healthcare workers' skin conditions.

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Research cited in this study

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research Comparison of Patients’ Diagnoses in a Dermatology Outpatient Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period and Pre-Pandemic Period

16 citations , December 2020 in “International Journal of Clinical Practice”

The pandemic changed how often certain skin conditions were diagnosed.

research Relative Changes in the Pattern of Diseases Presenting in Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

43 citations , July 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a clinic in Turkey saw fewer patients but more cases of certain skin conditions, possibly linked to the virus and stress.

research Change of the Diagnostic Distribution in Applicants to Dermatology After COVID-19 Pandemic: What It Whispers to Us?

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The COVID-19 pandemic led to fewer dermatology visits and changed the types of skin conditions patients experienced.