Asthma worsening after recovery from COVID-19 cause of concern among asthmatics
China: An original paper published in Respiratory Research Journal has concluded that mild-to-moderate COVID-19 among asthmatic patients has been tied to worsening symptoms, lower ACT score, increased need for maintenance therapy and more uncontrolled asthma after recovery.
Postulations are stating the association of asthma with the severity of COVID-19. However, their results remain conflicting regarding the impact of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 on asthmatic control after recovery from COVID-19.
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
