The impact of public health emergencies on allergen immunotherapy practices: A cross-sectional study on COVID-19 and physicians' perspectives in China.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To systematically evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the clinical management of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) in China and to establish an evidence-based AIT management strategy during future infectious disease outbreaks.
Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted in January 2025, involving 224 physicians with practical experience in AIT across 3 regions in China. Using a structured electronic questionnaire distributed via the Wenjuanxing platform, we systematically evaluated: physicians' basic information, the impact of the pandemic on AIT-related clinical decision-making, and the influence of COVID-19 vaccination on AIT. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square/Fisher exact tests, and multinomial logistic regression.
Results: Among surveyed physicians, 70.5% maintained standard AIT initiation during the pandemic. Most physicians (64.9% for subcutaneous injections, 57% for sublingual administration) implemented a conservative 8- to 14-day interval between AIT and COVID-19 vaccination, exceeding the 7-day EAACI recommendation, with variations based on physician AIT experience (P = 0.048) and patient volume (P = 0.034). And most physicians recommended for no AIT dose adjustments after vaccination.
Conclusion: This study documents how Chinese physicians adapted AIT practices during COVID-19. These clinician-developed strategies provide an applicable framework for maintaining AIT safety and efficacy during future public health crises while informing evidence-based guideline development.
期刊介绍：
Asia Pacific Allergy (AP Allergy) is the official journal of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI). Although the primary aim of the journal is to promote communication between Asia Pacific scientists who are interested in allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology including immunodeficiency, the journal is intended to be available worldwide. To enable scientists and clinicians from emerging societies appreciate the scope and intent of the journal, early issues will contain more educational review material. For better communication and understanding, it will include rational concepts related to the diagnosis and management of asthma and other immunological conditions. Over time, the journal will increase the number of original research papers to become the foremost citation journal for allergy and clinical immunology information of the Asia Pacific in the future.
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