Methods
This cross-sectional, multicentric, observational study was conducted in 35 Italian centers. This registry, which was aimed to collect data on moderate-severe AD patients treated with systemic agents and/or phototherapy during COVID-19 outbreak, has been promoted by the Italian Society of Dermatology (SIDeMaST) and approved by the national ethical committee for COVID-19-related studies (Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S.). The study period included the three phases of first wave COVID-19 pandemic in Italy (Figure S1).
Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) affected by moderate-to-severe AD, treated with systemic immunosuppressive/immunomodulant compounds or phototherapy, were included in the DA-COVID-19 registry if face-to-face evaluation or remote visit (via telephone- or web-consulting) were performed between March 10th and April 30th, 2020. By April 30th, data have been collected monthly, thereafter, on an ad-hoc database. Data were collected at 3 different timepoints: April 30th(Timepoint 1), May 30th (Timepoint 2), and June 30th (Timepoint 3) (Figure S1). Subjects who signed the informed consent were included in this study. Baseline data included age, gender, occupation, atopic comorbidities, smoking habits (smoker, former smoker, or non-smoker), and disease severity.