We evaluated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors among 4,987 oligo/asymptomatic HCW. The seroprevalence was 14% and factors associated with being infected with SARS-CoV-2 were lower educational level(aOR of 1.93;95%CI1.03-3.60), using public transport to work (aOR of 1.65;95%CI 1.07-2.62), and working in cleaning or security (aOR of 10.1;95%CI 3.40-26.9).
RATIONALE: Chronic urticaria (CU) frequently compromises patients' quality of life and stress can be a major factor. This becomes even more important in the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic scenario. This study aimed to assess how much this disease had compromised patients with CU. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with data collected from electronic medical records of patients with CU. As routine outpatient visits were suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic, patients received phone calls to reschedule their outpatient visits and during those calls, some questions were asked to assess clinical condition related to CU and possible infection with SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: From april to july, 2020, 140 patients received phone calls. Nervousness was reported by 80 patients (57.1%), of which 30% reported worsening of urticaria. The use of corticosteroids was more frequent among patients with emotional stress due to the pandemic (20%). Obesity was the other comorbidity most frequently seen in these patients with CU (35%). Of the 22 patients who visited the Emergency Room, 9 (40.9%), only five patients underwent specific investigation to COVID-19 and 2 (22.2%) of them tested positive -one obese patient was intubated for 24 days. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, our patients with CU presented more frequently new episodes of emotional stress and these were a factor associated with worsening urticaria and greater use of corticosteroids. Obesity, in our group of patients, was very prevalent and the only patient with CU admitted to an intensive care unit was not elderly but was obese with BMI> 35 kg/m2.
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