The Effect of COVID-19 and Vaccination against COVID-19 on Patients with Psoriasis

COVID-19 has not been adequately investigated in patients with psoriasis. We wanted to evaluate the effect of COVID19 and COVID-19 vaccines on disease course in patients with psoriasis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were admitted for the treatment of psoriasis between March 2020 and May 2022. Afterward, patients were contacted by telephone call to collect data on COVID-19. This study included 257 patients, 118 females, and 139 males. 238 (92.6%) patients were vaccinated against COVID-19. The mean age of the vaccinated and unvaccinated patients was 49.23 +/- 14.60 and 40.37 +/- 11.66 years, respectively (p=0.010). Exacerbation of psoriasis after COVID-19 vaccination was detected in 32 (13.4%) patients. 114 (44.4%) patients had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 18.4% of them stated exacerbation of psoriasis after COVID-19. No association was detected between COVID-19 and having an accompanying disease and psoriasis treatment (p=0.843, p=0.845, respectively). Hospitalization was required in 12 (10.5%) patients. Unvaccinated patients with psoriasis were significantly younger than those who were vaccinated. Exacerbation of psoriasis was reported in 13.4% of vaccinated patients and in 18.4% of patients after COVID-19. Nevertheless, accompanying disease and conventional or biological agent treatment were associated neither with COVID-19 nor COVID-19-related hospitalization.