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Volume 2023, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 0253-8253
  • EISSN: 2227-0426

Abstract

Background: Bronchial asthma affects about 20% of Qatar’s population. The impact of asthma on COVID-19 outcomes is controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of asthma on COVID-19 outcomes and the predictors of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in a cohort of asthma patients infected by COVID-19.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with asthma infected with COVID-19, who were recruited from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the main healthcare system in Qatar. Patients were matched to a control group of non-asthmatic COVID-19 patients (1:2) based on sex, age, and other comorbidities.

Results: Between March and August 2020, 616 patients with asthma met the inclusion criteria. The need for hospitalization among patients with asthma was independently associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for 10 years, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–1.54; = 0.001) and hypertension (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.43–3.93; = 0.001) but not with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta2 agonists, montelukast, or tiotropium. Patients with asthma required less hospitalization for COVID-19 than non-asthmatic patients (28.2% vs. 37.3%, respectively; aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.77–0.90; < 0.001). However, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was comparable between both groups (3.3% vs. 2.2%; aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.78–3.43; = 0.193).

No difference in mortality rate was observed between the two groups.

Conclusions: In Qatar, adult patients with asthma do not appear to be at higher risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or ICU admission compared to the general adult COVID-19-infected population. Older age and hypertension were the only significant predictors of COVID-19-related hospitalization among patients with asthma. Further larger studies are required to confirm such an association.

© 2023 Alhmoud, Barazi, Saad, Al Khiyami, El Ajez, Bakdach, Omrani, Ibrahim, El Anany, Al-Hail, licensee HBKU Press.
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2023-07-23
2024-06-29
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/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2023.15
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Characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with asthma presenting with COVID-19: A comparative cohort study
Qatar Medical Journal 2023, 15 (2023); https://doi.org/10.5339/qmj.2023.15
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2023.15
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2023.15
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): Asthma, COVID-19, morbidity and mortality

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