New paper features 22 guidance statements to promote optimal management of psoriatic disease during the pandemic
Portland, Ore. – September 9, 2020
To support the psoriatic disease community and their health care providers during this unprecedented time, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) COVID-19 Task Force announced the publication this week of 22 guidance statements for the management of psoriatic disease during the pandemic in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
The NPF COVID-19 Task Force, chaired by Joel Gelfand, M.D., MSCE and Christopher Ritchlin, M.D., M.P.H., is comprised of physicians with expertise in dermatology, rheumatology, infectious disease and critical care, in addition to fellows and NPF staff. These statements were centered around clinical questions informed by inquiries received from patients and health care providers by NPF.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented disruption in the lives of our patients with psoriatic disease,” said Gelfand, Professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. “In these uncertain times, patients and providers urgently need reliable guidance to inform decision making and promote optimal management of psoriatic disease during the pandemic. NPF has led the way by bringing together physicians with diverse areas of expertise relevant to COVID-19, producing critically needed recommendations for our community.”
The statements were formulated based upon the most recent data and provide guidance for the management of patients with psoriatic disease on topics ranging from how the disease and its treatments may impact COVID-19 risk and outcome, how clinical care can be optimized during the pandemic, what patients should do to lower their risk and what they should do if they develop COVID-19. These statements are the result of a modified Delphi process, which asked Task Force members to provide consensus on critical questions. Although knowledge is still evolving, 9 statements received high consensus, and 13 received moderate consensus. The statements will be updated as new data and insights emerge.
The 22 guidance statements relate to 5 key questions, categorized as follows:
- Category 1: What are the effects of psoriatic disease itself on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness?
- Category 2: What are the effects of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis treatment on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness?
- Category 3: How should medical care be delivered to patients with psoriatic disease to lower their risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 while still ensuring quality of care?
- Category 4: What should patients with psoriatic disease do to protect themselves from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2?
- Category 5: What should patients with psoriatic disease do if they become infected with COVID-19?
“The publication of formal evidence-based guidance statements represents an important collaboration from leaders across various disciplines and medical specialties to support our community,” said Stacie Bell, Ph.D., NPF’s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer. “For over 50 years, NPF has been the center of the psoriatic disease community – connecting patients and health care providers to improve health outcomes. These guidance statements are a critical step as we respond to patient needs during the pandemic.”
The National Psoriasis Foundation launched its COVID-19 Task Force in May 2020, with the charge to identify critical needs for the psoriatic disease community related to the pandemic and to serve as an expert resource to NPF in an advisory capacity. NPF advises health care providers to visit its COVID-19 Resource Center for the latest guidance from the Task Force, in order to promote optimal care and outcomes for patients with psoriatic disease during the pandemic.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
Serving its community through more than 50 years of patient support, advocacy, research, education and funding, the National Psoriasis Foundation, NPF, is the world’s leading nonprofit fighting for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The NPF mission is to drive efforts to cure psoriatic disease and dramatically improve the lives of more than 8 million individuals in the United States affected by this chronic immune-mediated disease. As part of that effort, NPF created its Patient Navigation Center to offer personalized assistance to everyone with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. To date, NPF has funded more than $24 million in research grants and fellowships that help drive discoveries that may lead to more and better treatments and ultimately a cure. Learn more at psoriasis.org