Biologic treatments for psoriasis protect against COVID-19 hospitalization

Among patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, the use of biologics appears to lower the risk of being hospitalized for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a new study has found.

A total of 374 patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 participated in the present study. Data from all participants were retrieved from the online, international database of the Psoriasis Patient Registry for Outcomes, Therapy, and Epidemiology of COVID-19 infection. The main exposure variable assessed was treatment type, while the outcome was COVID-19 hospitalization.

Majority (71 percent; n=267) of the patients were receiving biologic psoriasis treatment; 18 percent were on nonbiologic interventions, while 10 percent were taking no systemic therapy. Tumour necrosis factor and interleukin inhibitors were common biologics of choice. Ninety-three percent (n=348) fully recovered from COVID-19.

Over the course of data observation, 77 patients had to be hospitalized for COVID-19, yielding a rate of 21 percent. Seven patients needed high-flow oxygen supplementation, while 12 were put on mechanical ventilation; nine patients died.

Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that relative to patients receiving biologic treatment, those on nonbiologic psoriasis interventions were nearly thrice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR], 2.84, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.31–6.18). Participants not on any systemic treatment also had significant risk elevation, though not significantly so (OR, 2.35, 95 percent CI, 0.82–6.72).

Other notable risk factors included the male sex, older age, and comorbid chronic lung disease.

“The accumulation of further data is required to clarify these observations before any recommendations for changes in clinical practice can be considered,” the researchers said.