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.
Subject(s)
Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use , Asthma/diet therapy , Asthma/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/administration & dosage , Humans , Pandemics , Patient Acuity , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The Global initiative against asthma (GINA) 2020 strategy has been released with some changes and updates. GINA recommends the continuation of medications, avoidance of nebulization and spirometry, and ensuring a written asthma action plan in COVID-19 times. GINA 2020 specifies which step of management is to be followed according to the patient's symptoms in an easy flowchart. Clinicians need to be aware of the changes and the evidence behind them.
Subject(s)
Allergy and Immunology/standards , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/administration & dosage , Asthma/drug therapy , COVID-19/prevention & control , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Aerosols , Allergy and Immunology/trends , Asthma/complications , Asthma/diagnosis , Asthma/immunology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/transmission , Global Health , Humans , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Nebulizers and Vaporizers/standards , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Spirometry/adverse effects , Spirometry/standardsSubject(s)
Anti-Asthmatic Agents , Asthma , COVID-19 , Infection Control , Patient Care Management/methods , Adolescent , Aerosols/therapeutic use , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/classification , Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/physiopathology , Asthma/therapy , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/transmission , Child , Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control , Humans , Infection Control/instrumentation , Infection Control/methods , Infection Control/organization & administration , Nebulizers and Vaporizers/standards , Patient Care Management/standards , Patient Care Management/trends , Patient Discharge/trends , SARS-CoV-2 , Severity of Illness Index , Symptom Flare UpABSTRACT
Montelukast can be effective in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.