Prevalence of asthma in patients hospitalized for pneumonia associated to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

The association between asthma and COVID-19 remains controversial. Objective. To establish the prevalence of asthma in a sample of patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia; furthermore, to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with asthma compared to patients without asthma. Clinical data corresponding to 120 patients hospitalized for pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed. Patients with and without asthma were compared based on COVID-19 severity. The prevalence of asthma in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was 3.5% (95% CI: 2.0% to 5.1%). When comparing the severity of COVID-19 among asthma patients with non-asthma patients, it did not differ based on symptoms, comorbidity, duration of symptoms, need for assisted mechanical ventilation, biomarkers of inflammation, and the occurrence of death. Patients with asthma and COVID-19 showed a high T2 phenotype, poor respiratory function, and no regular treatment for asthma control. No significant differences in the frequency of assisted mechanical ventilation or death were observed between patients hospitalized for COVID-19-associated pneumonia with and without a history of asthma.