RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Impact of COVID-19 on Patients with Asthma
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 2003142
DO 10.1183/13993003.03142-2020
A1 José Luis Izquierdo
A1 Carlos Almonacid
A1 Yolanda González
A1 Carlos Del Rio-Bermúdez
A1 Julio Ancochea
A1 Remedios Cárdenas
A1 Sara Lumbreras
A1 Joan B Soriano
YR 2020
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2020/12/10/13993003.03142-2020.abstract
AB 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.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.