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https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2021.393

PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND ATOPIC DERMATITIS SEVERITY FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND AN EARTHQUAKE

Liborija Lugović-Mihić orcid.org/0000-0001-7494-5742 ; Department of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia ; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Meštrović-Štefekov ; Department of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia
Nives Pondeljak ; Department of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Dasović ; Department of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirna Tomljenović-Veselski ; Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Dr. Josip Bencević General Hospital, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Hrvoje Cvitanović orcid.org/0000-0003-3856-2968 ; Department of Dermatovenerology, Karlovac General Hospital, Karlovac, Croatia

Sažetak

Background: The course of chronic diseases can be influenced by psychological stress, suggesting a potential influence of
current/recent disasters on atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The aim of the study was to examine effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
and Zagreb earthquake on the psychological stress level and disease condition of AD patients.
Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study included 150 AD patients (three groups with 50 patients): 1) those not exposed
to either the COVID-19 pandemic or the earthquake; 2) those who only experienced the COVID-19 pandemic; and 3) those who
experienced both the pandemic and the earthquake. Patients' data from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), on AD severity (SCORAD),
and their answers from our newly designed questionnaire on disease-related behaviors and AD condition during the pandemic and
quarantine were examined and statistically analyzed.
Results: The subjects who experienced both disasters had a greater PSS than those experiencing only the COVID-19 pandemic,
especially women, and they also had higher disease severity (SCORAD) than those in the other two groups. Also, 59% of patients
reported psychological stress during the pandemic, mostly caused by: the possibility of infection (31%), a changed work life and
possible loss of income (23%), general pandemic-related conditions (17%), worry about physical survival (11%) and other (6%).
Concerning the earthquake, the PSS significantly positively correlated with the psychological experience of the earthquake and with
the intensity of sleep disturbances.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically confirm that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced AD
patients’ stress levels and that stress from two disasters affected skin disease. Further research and therapeutic measures are needed.

Ključne riječi

atopic dermatitis; psychologic stress; COVID-19 pandemic; earthquake; quarantine

Hrčak ID:

266101

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/266101

Datum izdavanja:

22.11.2021.

Posjeta: 279 *