Abstract
Background An association between the severity of COVID-19 and the presence of certain chronic conditions has been suggested. However, unlike influenza and other viruses, the disease burden in patients with asthma has been less evident.
Objective To understand the impact of COVID-19 in patients with asthma.
Methods Using big data analytics and artificial intelligence through the SAVANA Manager® clinical platform, we analysed clinical data from patients with asthma from January 1st to May 10th, 2020.
Results Out of 71 182 patients with asthma, 1006 (1.41%) suffered from COVID-19. Compared to asthmatic individuals without COVID-19, patients with asthma and COVID-19 were significantly older (55 versus 42 years), predominantly female (66% versus 59%), smoked more frequently, and had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemias, diabetes, and obesity. Allergy-related factors such as rhinitis and eczema were less common in asthmatic patients with COVID-19 (p<.001). Higher prevalence of these comorbidities was also observed in patients with COVID-19 who required hospital admission. The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was lower in patients who required hospitalisation due to COVID-19, as compared to non-hospitalised patients (48.3% versus 61.5%; OR: 0.58: 95% CI 0.44–0.77). Although patients treated with biologics (n=865; 1.21%) showed increased severity and more comorbidities at the ENT level, COVID-19-related hospitalisations in these patients were relatively low (0.23%).
Conclusion Patients with asthma and COVID-19 were older and at increased risk due to comorbidity-related factors. ICS and biologics are generally safe and may be associated with a protective effect against severe COVID-19 infection.
Abstract
The increased risk for hospitalisation due to COVID-19 in patients with asthma is largely associated with age and related comorbidities. ICS and biologics may be associated with a protective effect against the most severe manifestations of COVID-19.
Footnotes
Support statement: Grant COVID-19 UAH 2019/00003/016/001/005 from the University of Alcalá (Spain). Universidad de Alcalá; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100006302; Grant: Grant COVID-19 UAH 2019/00003/016/001/005 from the.
This article has supplementary material available from erj.ersjournals.com
Conflict of interest: Dr. IZQUIERDO reports personal fees from ASTRA ZENECA, personal fees from BAYER, personal fees from BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, personal fees from CHIESI, personal fees from GSK, personal fees from GRIFOLS, personal fees from MENARINI, personal fees from NOVARTIS, personal fees from ORION, personal fees from PFIZER, personal fees from SANDOZ, personal fees from TEVA.
Conflict of interest: Dr. ALMONACID reports personal fees from ASTRA ZENECA, personal fees from BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM, personal fees from CHIESI, personal fees from GSK, personal fees from MENARINI, personal fees from NOVARTIS, personal fees from ALK.
Conflict of interest: Dr. González reports other from SAVANA MEDICA. I am an employee at Savana Medica
Conflict of interest: Dr. Del Rio-Bermudez reports other from SAVANA MEDICA; I am an employee at Savana Medica
Conflict of interest: Dr. Ancochea has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dra Cárdenas has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Soriano has nothing to disclose.
- Received August 14, 2020.
- Accepted October 20, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020
This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.