Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Safety of medications during the pandemic Over 100 million Americans live with pre- existing conditions. They do not need to be severe in order to utilize medical treatments, usually prescriptions, but also physical therapy, inhalations, oxygen intake, UV light treatments and similar. Many, present with a number of conditions and must be managed by multiple specialties. Certainly, age is a big factor but not only. There are thousands of patients genetically predisposed to chronic diseases who are still at the young age and fully operational and professionally active. And there are children born with congenital disorders requiring long-term medical treatments. The most important factor for all the above groups is to be able to continue their treatments. Any type of deviation from regular medication or procedure can mean total deterioration of health or even death. data is quite convincing. There have been no I do not need to tell any parent with a child with diabetes type 1 how important insulin intake is and how often they need to measure glucose levels. These parents spend their lives watching every step of their childs'movement. I do not need to tell a senior with chronic arthritis about the importance of anti- inflammatory therapy and physical therapy. patients who continue seeing their providers, I do not need to remind psoriasis or eczema patients that skipping their medication will long as everyone follow simple precautions of mean another flare of the disease, pain, wearing protective equipment and minimizing itching, and sleepless nights. The most crucial issue to remember is reporting system of public health. And their events of increased COVID-19 infections in the groups of patients receiving new generation of biologic therapies. Doctors and scientists are pretty consistent with reporting that the risk of discontinuing the therapy during the pandemic is higher than simply continuing it. There is no evidence of safety deterioration in whether it is a physical therapist or a doctor, as that skipping medication or regular medical care for patients with chronic conditions not only means worsening of the condition but also possible side affects like extended inflammation. There are some studies showing the treatments. Certainly, elective procedures negative cardiac responses in patients who suddenly flared psoriasis due to discontinuing the system utilization. close contact. There is evidence that the healthcare system may get easily overwhelmed especially during the waves of increased infection, but this problem is more associated with organization and management of the system than safety of are not recommended and it is mostly due to Thus, when we receive questions from the treatments. So, what about the safety of these drugs and patients about starting or continuing their treatments during the pandemic? We will not know the full scope of pandemic weadvise them to do so rather than experience affects on chronically ill patients until long after unnecessary effects of flaring symptoms. Of the pandemic is over or at least controlled. With American public health system and insurance system being multi-leveled and very complex, we do not have much data to address evidence of safety of treatments other than COVID-19. But we do have some during the pandemic is a part of preventing solid data from Europe where most countries have public option medicine and unified biologic injections for psoriasis or dermatitis, course, all these decisions are made on a case by case basis, as each patient has a different medical history, but generally speaking, no treatment should be stopped in any chronic disorder. Continuation of proper medical care the infection. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Safety of medications during the pandemic Over 100 million Americans live with pre- existing conditions. They do not need to be severe in order to utilize medical treatments, usually prescriptions, but also physical therapy, inhalations, oxygen intake, UV light treatments and similar. Many, present with a number of conditions and must be managed by multiple specialties. Certainly, age is a big factor but not only. There are thousands of patients genetically predisposed to chronic diseases who are still at the young age and fully operational and professionally active. And there are children born with congenital disorders requiring long-term medical treatments. The most important factor for all the above groups is to be able to continue their treatments. Any type of deviation from regular medication or procedure can mean total deterioration of health or even death. data is quite convincing. There have been no I do not need to tell any parent with a child with diabetes type 1 how important insulin intake is and how often they need to measure glucose levels. These parents spend their lives watching every step of their childs'movement. I do not need to tell a senior with chronic arthritis about the importance of anti- inflammatory therapy and physical therapy. patients who continue seeing their providers, I do not need to remind psoriasis or eczema patients that skipping their medication will long as everyone follow simple precautions of mean another flare of the disease, pain, wearing protective equipment and minimizing itching, and sleepless nights. The most crucial issue to remember is reporting system of public health. And their events of increased COVID-19 infections in the groups of patients receiving new generation of biologic therapies. Doctors and scientists are pretty consistent with reporting that the risk of discontinuing the therapy during the pandemic is higher than simply continuing it. There is no evidence of safety deterioration in whether it is a physical therapist or a doctor, as that skipping medication or regular medical care for patients with chronic conditions not only means worsening of the condition but also possible side affects like extended inflammation. There are some studies showing the treatments. Certainly, elective procedures negative cardiac responses in patients who suddenly flared psoriasis due to discontinuing the system utilization. close contact. There is evidence that the healthcare system may get easily overwhelmed especially during the waves of increased infection, but this problem is more associated with organization and management of the system than safety of are not recommended and it is mostly due to Thus, when we receive questions from the treatments. So, what about the safety of these drugs and patients about starting or continuing their treatments during the pandemic? We will not know the full scope of pandemic weadvise them to do so rather than experience affects on chronically ill patients until long after unnecessary effects of flaring symptoms. Of the pandemic is over or at least controlled. With American public health system and insurance system being multi-leveled and very complex, we do not have much data to address evidence of safety of treatments other than COVID-19. But we do have some during the pandemic is a part of preventing solid data from Europe where most countries have public option medicine and unified biologic injections for psoriasis or dermatitis, course, all these decisions are made on a case by case basis, as each patient has a different medical history, but generally speaking, no treatment should be stopped in any chronic disorder. Continuation of proper medical care the infection. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net