BackgroundSince the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, there is not much reported about the
disease course of COVID-19 in patients with allergic diseases.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the cumulative incidence and
severity of COVID-19 among patients from the allergy department compared
with the general Dutch population and people from their household.DesignWe conducted a comparative longitudinal cohort study.MethodsIn this study patients of the allergy department were included with their
household members as a control group. Data from the beginning of the
pandemic were systematically obtained through questionnaires by telephonic
interviews and retrieved from electronic patient files between October 15,
2020 and January 29, 2021. Main outcomes were confirmed SARS-CoV-2
infection, disease duration, hospitalization, intensive care admission, and
mortality. Questions regarding applied social distancing measures were
inventoried as well.ResultsThree hundred and eighty nine patients (median age 39.1 (18.7-84.7) years,
69.9% female) and 441 household members (median age 42.0 (18.0-91.5), 44.1%
female) were included. The cumulative COVID-19 incidence in patients was
higher compared with the general population (10.5% vs 5.6%,P< .001). In total, 41 (10.5%) patients attending
the allergy clinic compared to 38 (8.6%) household members were infected
with SARS-CoV-2 (P= .407). Median disease duration was
11.0 (0.0-61.0) days in patients compared to 10.5(1.0-232.0) days in
household members (P= .996).ConclusionThe cumulative COVID-19 incidence in patients from the allergy cohort was
higher compared with the general Dutch population, but similar compared with
household members. There was no difference in symptoms, disease duration, or
hospitalization rate between the allergy cohort and their household
members.