Severe asthma and COVID-19: lessons from the first wave

Abstract

Objective

Severe asthma is considered a risk factor for SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection but scientific evidences are lacking.

Methods

we performed a literature search and review based on PubMed database national, international recommendations as well as papers on severe asthmatic patients and their management during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Results

the majority of international recommendations, expert panels and editorials provide indications about management of severe asthmatic patients. No published studies evaluated the effects of biologic agents on severe asthmatic patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Conclusions

the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and asthma is variable worldwide and severe asthmatic patients were seldom reported in published cohorts. International recommendations suggest maintaining asthma under control to limit exacerbations occurrence, by using all available treatment. The minimum steroid dosage effective to control symptoms should be maintained to avoid exacerbations; biologic agents administration should be regularly scheduled encouraging patient support programmes.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• severe asthma
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• biologic agents
• inhaled corticosteroids
• oral corticosteroids

Authors’ contributions

Patrucco Filippo: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing original draft, Writing review & editing; Benfante Alida: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing original draft, Writing review & editing; Villa Elisa: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing original draft; Principe Stefania: Writing original draft, Writing review & editing; Scichilone Nicola: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Writing review & editing; Solidoro Paolo: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Writing review & editing. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.