WEDNESDAY, February 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) – During the pandemic, asthmatics feared their respiratory disease could increase their risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, but new research should allay their fears.
After analyzing data from 57 studies that totaled over 587,000 people, scientists found that rates of asthma in people with COVID-19 were similar to the general population, at just over seven in 100 people and just over eight in 100 people. respectively.
Compared to the general population, people with asthma were 14% less likely to receive COVID-19 and 14% less likely to be hospitalized with the disease.
According to researchers at the George Institute for Global Health in New South Wales, Australia, the risk of death from COVID-19 was the same for people with and without asthma.
The study was recently published online in the Journal of Asthma.
It’s unclear why people with asthma are not at higher risk of COVID-19, but one possible explanation is that asthma treatments may limit the coronavirus’ ability to attach to the lungs, the study co-author said, Christine Jenkins, head of the institute’s respiratory program.
“Chemical receptors in the lungs that the virus binds to are less active in people with certain types of asthma. Some studies suggest that inhaled corticosteroids – commonly used to treat asthma – can reduce their activity even further.” she stated in a press release from the institute.
“Also, the initial uncertainty about the effects of asthma on COVID-19 may have created anxiety in patients and caregivers, leading them to be more vigilant to prevent infection,” added Jenkins.
The results may be reassuring, but researchers and doctors need to learn more, according to lead investigator Anthony Sunjaya.
“Although we have shown that people with asthma do not seem to have a higher risk of infection with COVID-19 than people without asthma and have similar results, we need to do more research to better understand how the virus affects people with asthma.” he said said.
More information
Asthma Canada has more about COVID-19 and asthma.
SOURCE: Journal of Asthma, press release, February 18, 2021
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