The course of COVID-19 in allergic rhinitis patients receiving allergen-specific immunotherapy

IntroductionThe aims of presenting study were trying to expose the course of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), to compare the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization and pneumonia rates in patients with AR receiving allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and patients did not receive AIT (non-receivers) and to define possible risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 positivity in patients with AR. Materials and MethodsA total of 419 patients with AR who were being followed up in a tertiary allergy clinic between 1 June 2020 and 31 December 2020, were selected for the study. Only patients who were receiving active-continuous treatment for allergic rhinitis during the study period, were included in the study. ResultsSeventy-nine patients (18.9%) became infected with the SARS-CoV-2 [32 patients (19.6%) in AR patients with AIT and 47 patients (19.0%) in non-receivers] and the rate of pneumonia was 2.4% [12.7% of SARS-CoV-2 (+) patients]. There was no significant difference was determined between the AR patients with AIT and the non-receivers in regard to the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection, pneumonia, and hospitalization (p: 0.864, p: 0.081, p: 0.113). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of gender, duration of disease, sensitivity to allergens (atopy), and serum IgE levels (p: 0.009, p: 0.001, p: 0.001, and p: 0.001). The accompanying comorbidities, eosinophil count, AIT, and duration of AIT were not found to be associated with an increased risk SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity. However, the female gender was shown to be associated with a decreased risk for SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity (OR, 0.571; 95% confidence interval, 0.330-0.987; p: 0.045) ConclusionThe course of SARS-CoV-2 is similar in patients with AR who underwent AIT and patients with AR who did not undergo AIT, and AIT does not seem to increase the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection.