Psychological impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 on people with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the current literature of the psychological impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on people with allergic diseases and to identify gaps in need of future research.

Data sources: Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Embase Classics + Embase from 1947 to present (October 18, 2021) were searched using a search strategy that included the following keywords: allergic diseases, covid*, and psychological disorders.

Study selections: Primary manuscripts and abstracts using online and telephone surveys, mixed-method studies capturing patient and caregiver experiences, case studies, and published guidelines from allergic disease-specific expert groups were included.

Results: People with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions are at higher risk of negative psychological outcomes, and risk factors include asthma severity, female sex, and previous history of anxiety and depression, likely owing to the perceived risk of severe disease from COVID-19. One study identified that people with allergic rhinitis had significantly high anxiety and depression scores compared with healthy controls (both, P < .001). The psychological impacts of food allergy during COVID-19 were most strongly felt by parents and caregivers. Similarly, parents of children with asthma experienced substantial psychological burden.

Conclusion: COVID-19 had a considerable psychological impact on patients with asthma. Limited data have been published on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on patients with allergic rhinitis and food allergy. As COVID-19 research continues to evolve and the literature captures later stages of the pandemic, it is important that physicians be aware of the potential coincidence of mental illness and chronic allergic diseases and refer these patients, and their caregivers, to appropriate resources while also continuing to manage their allergic disease(s).