Extract
Epidemiological studies suggest that patients with asthma are not at an increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1–3]. Recent studies indicate that the severity of COVID-19 in patients with asthma is likely to depend on multiple factors. A type 2-low asthma phenotype, use of oral corticosteroids and severe asthma could be aggravating factors, while maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and good asthma control are probably protective [4]. However, there is currently scarce information on the risk associated with COVID-19 in subjects with severe asthma and/or the use of biologics. Since eosinopenia is a biomarker for the severity of COVID-19 [5], the eosinophil depletion induced by anti-IL5 and anti-IL5 receptor blocking monoclonal antibodies raises concern in patients and their treating physicians.
Abstract
In a cohort of severe asthma patients, a small number of COVID-19 cases was found; none resulted in death or a very severe disease course. Use of biologics for severe allergic or severe eosinophilic asthma was not associated with a higher risk of COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3ndZmyD
Footnotes
Author contributions: S. Hanon, G. Brusselle and F. Schleich conceived the study. D. Schuermans and all co-authors collected the data. S. Hanon and F. Schleich analysed the data, and co-wrote the manuscript. All authors provided critical feedback on the data, edited the manuscript and guarantee the accuracy of the data and the ensuing manuscript.
Conflict of interest: S. Hanon reports personal fees from GSK, AstraZeneca, Teva, Sanofi and Novartis, grants and personal fees from Chiesi, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: G. Brusselle reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GSK, Novartis, Sanofi and Teva, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: M. Deschampheleire has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: R. Louis reports grants and personal fees from GSK, AstraZeneca and Novartis, grants from Chiesi, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: A. Michils reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from AstraZeneca and Chiesi, grants and personal fees from GlaxoSmithKline, personal fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: R. Peché has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: C. Pilette has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: P. Rummens has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: D. Schuermans has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: H. Simonis has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: O. Vandenplas has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: F. Schleich has nothing to disclose.
- Received July 21, 2020.
- Accepted September 27, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020
This version is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.