Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 related treatment delay on subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) efficacy in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: The study was performed in 643 patients with SCIT appointments between February 1 and May 31, 2020. The clinical assessment, performed at baseline (V0) and one year later (V1), included visual analogue scale (VAS);daily symptom score (dSS);daily medication score (dMS);combined symptom and medication scores (CSMS);quality of life (QoL);self-rating anxiety scale (SAS);and self-rating depression scale (SDS) for each patient. Results: At V0, 249 patients were treated on schedule, and 394 were delayed (7 ± 4.68 weeks). Among them, 319 patients (105 on schedule, and 214 delayed) also completed the assessments at V1, with the absence of 25.39% patients due to completion of SCIT, and 25.35% patients were withdrawal. The results of all assessments were within the normal range for all patients at V0 and V1, with the exception of a slightly higher SDS score (56.13) at V0. In the SCIT delayed group. there was a significant positive correlation between the length (weeks) of the delay and SDS score, and this was significantly higher in patients with poor control of nasal symptoms. Conclusions: This study showed the long-term efficacy of SCIT for AR patients, including those who have had to delay normal therapy due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The psychological status of SCIT patients in response to lockdown of hospital services during this critical period should be considered.
Sustained impact of subcutaneous immunotherapy among patients with allergic rhinitis who experienced treatment delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter, two-arm, real-world study