Clinical behavior of patients with asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, and respiratory viruses are well-known triggers for asthma exacerbations. Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with pulmonary symptoms. Objective: To evaluate the clinical behavior of patients with asthma during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Methods: A retrospective study of electronic medical records of adult asthmatic patients being followed up in a tertiary care service and who received telephone calls for rescheduling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic data, asthma symptoms, atopy, comorbidities, and symptoms related to coronavirus infection were analyzed. Patients were classified according to their history of asthma attacks. Results: In total, 207 patients were included; 79.7% were female, mean age was 53.3 years, mean asthma duration was 35 years, and 81.7% were atopic. The main comorbidities were obesity (32.9%), high blood pressure (47.3%), diabetes mellitus (17.4%), and emotional stress (68.1%). Eighty-seven patients (40.1%) had acute symptoms, of which 20 (9.7%) sought emergency care and 15 (7.2%) were investigated for COVID-19, all of which were negative. Only 7 patients (3.4%) had exacerbations and required systemic corticosteroids. Among patients with acute respiratory symptoms, dyspnea, cough, asthenia, and headache were the most frequent complaints suggestive of COVID-19 when compared to those without an asthma attack (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study found that asthmatic patients had a low prevalence of asthma exacerbation during the coronavirus pandemic. Patients with acute symptoms may have been underdiagnosed for COVID-19 in view of the low demand for emergency care. Previous atopy may act as a protective factor for COVID-19 in asthmatic patients.