Impact of COVID-19 on Occupational Dermato-allergology Consultations of Health Peronnel

Occupational dermatitis is the second most common occupational disease in Europe, with a notable prevalence among healthcare workers-approximately 20% of whom are affected. However, these figures may be underestimated due to underreporting. Despite the presumed scale of the problem, there is no recent European data providing real numbers. This study seeks to address the knowledge gap regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on occupational dermatitis within the healthcare workers population. EPIDERMAPS is a retrospective cohort study that analyzes data from two specialized centers in the Paris region. The primary goal is to assess changes in the proportion of dermatology-allergology consultations among healthcare workers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary objectives include evaluating the pandemic's effect on occupational dermatoses incidences, attributed to increased PPE and hygiene products usage. The major focus will be on work-related allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, acne, and rosacea. The latter objective is to identify new allergens or contributing factors. Participants include active healthcare workers aged 18 or older who sought consultations for dermatological or dermatology-allergology related motifs between March 15, 2017, and March 15, 2023. Exclusions apply for patients who have consulted for other than dermatology-allergology related motif and those opposing to participate. Data will be stored, anonymized, and analyzed using EasyMedStat. Data collection is scheduled between March and December 2024. This research aims to offer insights into COVID-19's dermatologic and allergic effects on healthcare professionals, informing future preventive measures and enhanced care strategies.