Asthma worsening after recovery from COVID-19 cause of concern among asthmatics

A team of researchers did a case-control study to determine the association between mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and asthma control.

They measured a reduction in Asthma Control Test (ACT) score by ≥ 3 points as the primary outcome post-COVID infection.

The study results are summarised below:

• There were 221 adults with a history of asthma included in the study.
• Nearly 111 patients had a history of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within 30 to 270 days.
• The adjusted odds ratio for a reduced ACT score by ≥ 3 points was 3.105 (after the COVID-19 infection).
• The odds of escalation of maintenance therapy by at least 1 GINA step (Global Initiative for Asthma) was 4.733.
• The asthmatic patient became uncontrolled after COVID-19 having aOR of 5.509.

To conclude, the asthmatic symptoms worsened and became uncontrolled, with lower ACT scores and a higher need for escalating maintenance therapy, even after recovery from COVID-19.

Further reading:

Kwok et al. Worsening of asthma control after recovery from mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients from Hong Kong. Respir Res 24, 53 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-023-02363-z