Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Inpatient Dermatology: A Multicenter Study from Hubei, China

The study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inpatient dermatology in Hubei, China, by comparing data from 3,838 patients admitted in 2019 to 1,081 in 2020 across seven tertiary hospitals. There was a significant reduction in admissions, particularly in Wuhan, where admissions dropped by 89.58%. Patients preferred local hospitals, but Wuhan hospitals saw an increase in patients from surrounding areas and longer hospital stays. The pandemic led to fewer admissions for viral infections, skin tumors, and drug eruptions, but more for eczema, erythemas, and papulosquamous dermatoses. The use of masks and social distancing likely reduced viral infections, while increased hand disinfectant use may have contributed to more eczema cases. The study highlighted a shift towards more severe dermatological cases being hospitalized during and after the pandemic, with implications for future dermatology practices worldwide. Limitations included potential misclassification of diagnoses and the study's restriction to seven hospitals.