The impact of asthma on COVID-19 disease severity in children and adolescents. (3rd June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robbins, Emily; Daoud, Steven; Demissie, Seleshi; James, Pushpom
• Is Part Of: Journal of asthma. Volume 60:Number 6(2023)
• Page Start: 1097
• Page End: 1103
• Publication Date: 2023-06-03
• Subjects: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) -- asthma -- pediatrics -- comorbidities; Asthma -- Periodicals; 616.238005
• DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2132956
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Atopy and allergic asthma have been found to be protective against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults but have not been studied in children. Objective: To identify whether children and adolescents with asthma had less severe disease and lower morbidity from COVID-19 than their counterparts without asthma. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review from March 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021. Charts were eligible for inclusion if patients were over 6 years of age and below 20 years of age and tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR or antigen testing or were COVID-19 antibody positive when they presented to the emergency department (ED). Patients were grouped according to disease severity and divided into two groups, those with asthma and those without. A total of 1, 585 patients were included—1, 492 without asthma and 93 with asthma. Results: Children and adolescents with asthma are less likely to be seen in the ED for COVID-19–related disease (p value< 0.0001, but if they presented to the ED, they were significantly more likely to be hospitalized, require oxygen, and have more severe forms of COVID-19 than children and adolescents without asthma (p value< 0.0001). Conclusions: Children and adolescents with asthma, though less likely to be seen in ED with COVID-19, were more likely to have severe disease than patients without asthma, once they presented to the ED.