According to current studies, patients with comorbidities like lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and immunosuppression appear to be at a higher risk for severe forms of the COVID-19.

A new study published in Dermatologic Therapy aimed to ascertain comorbid dermatologic conditions associated with COVID-19.

This study analyzed previous dermatological comorbidities of 93 patients with COVID-19 – 51 males and 42 females, who presented to the dermatology outpatient clinics over the last three years.

The findings revealed that the most common dermatologic diseases in the last three years, among patients with COVID-19, were superficial fungal infections in 25.8%; seborrheic dermatitis in 11.8%; actinic keratosis in 10.8%; psoriasis in 6.5%; and eczema in 6.5%. While the number of COVID-19 patients who presented to the dermatology department in the last three months comprised 11 men and 6 women. These patients belonged to the age-range of 18-80 years (median age - 58 years); the most common dermatologic diseases before the diagnosis of COVID-19 were superficial fungal infections in 25%; psoriasis in 20%; and viral skin diseases in 15%.

In inference, it was stated that the possible similarity between cutaneous and mucosal immunity and immunosuppression suggests that patients with some dermatologic diseases, especially superficial fungal infections and psoriasis may be more vulnerable to the COVID-19.

Source: Dermatologic Therapy. 2020 May 5;e13509. doi: 10.1111/dth.13509.