Coronavirus disease 2019 and psoriatic arthritis: Features and connections

Abstract Background Little is known about the characteristics of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19 on PsA progression and comprehend the role of COVID‐19 vaccination in the infection course. Methods A total of 163 adult patients with PsA from 15 provinces in China were enrolled in this multiregional observational study from January 14, 2023, to March 22, 2023. Data on patient demographics, COVID‐19 status, and disease characteristics were collected through a structured questionnaire survey. Results Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infections could worsen PsA, with 29.0% of patients experiencing deteriorating symptoms. Psoriasis was the symptom most exacerbated (61.1%), followed by peripheral arthritis (52.8%) and dactylitis (25.0%). Compared with the patients whose arthritic condition was stable before contracting COVID‐19, those with active PsA experienced more severe COVID‐19 symptoms, reporting higher self‐assessed symptom severity scores and a greater prevalence of dyspnea (42.9% vs. 7.3%). Moreover, although full vaccination (≥2 doses) could not prevent COVID‐19, it could alleviate the infection symptoms, including diarrhea, fatigue, appetite changes, and spondyloarthritis. Additionally, fully vaccinated individuals had a higher probability of avoiding deterioration of their PsA condition after infection. Conclusion Active PsA and lack of COVID‐19 vaccination are risk factors for worsening COVID‐19 symptoms and PsA condition after infection. The evidence from this real‐world study suggests that COVID‐19 may exacerbate PsA.