The impact of appointment interruptions due to COVID-19 in patients being treated with phototherapy

Abstract

The phototherapy unit in Malta, previously located at Sir Boffa Hospital in Floriana, had an annual turnover of around 11 thousand visits. Many of these patients suffer from moderate-to-severe psoriasis (plaque, guttate and palmo-plantar), but other indications include eczema, mycosis fungoides, morphea and others.

In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic this phototherapy unit was closed and treatment of patients receiving light therapy was forced to cease. The aim of this short study was to follow up patients previously receiving phototherapy, to assess the effect of the abrupt halt in treatment on their clinical condition and their quality of life.

In summary, closure of the service has led to a general worsening of patients’ clinical condition, with 54.21% of the patients interviewed having felt worse whilst off treatment when compared to being on treatment 3 months prior, and 4 of the 83 individuals (4.8%) having to be placed on systemic immunosuppressant agents.