Risk of Inflammatory Dermatoses Following Covid-19 Infection: A cohort Study of 204,241 Patients

Abstract Background The long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on inflammatory dermatoses remain incompletely defined. Objective To evaluate the association between COVID-19 infection and a broad range of inflammatory dermatoses. Methods In this cohort study, electronic health-record data were analyzed for 204,241 patients seen at a tertiary medical center between March 2020 and May 2023, including 22,368 with confirmed COVID-19 and 181,873 controls with negative testing. Diagnoses of 16 inflammatory dermatoses were extracted from standardized documentation fields and verified diagnostic codes. Results Elevated risks were observed for atopic dermatitis (IRR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.25–1.46; P < .001), acne vulgaris (IRR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.17–1.98; P = .002), rosacea (IRR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.53–3.66; P < .001), alopecia areata (IRR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.44–3.80; P < .001), and seborrheic dermatitis (IRR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.29–2.30; P < .001). No significant associations were observed for psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, lupus erythematosus, pemphigus, or bullous pemphigoid. Conclusions Covid-19 infection emerged as a novel risk factor for several inflammatory dermatoses.