Evaluating the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on asthma morbidity: A comprehensive analysis of potential influencing factors.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
; 127(1): 91-99, 2021 07.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1198608
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period is experiencing better asthma control, fewer exacerbations, and health care utilization, with limited data on factors that could explain this phenomenon.OBJECTIVE:
To confirm these improved asthma outcomes during COVID-19 and evaluate potential contributing factors.METHODS:
In 18,912 pediatric patients with asthma treated in the Children's Hospital of Orange County network from 2017 to 2020, monthly asthma-related encounters and medication summaries were extracted from electronic health records, particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) air pollution from the California Air Resources Board, and influenza-like illness from Illness Surveillance Network for the first 6 months of each year. Changes in outcomes between January to March and April to June (post-COVID-19 shutdown in 2020) were compared with historical data using generalized estimating equations analyses for patient outcomes and generalized linear models for pollution exceedance, influenza-positive, and telehealth visit rates.RESULTS:
During COVID-19, we found 78%, 90%, 68% reductions in hospitalization, emergency department visits, and exacerbations, respectively, compared with pre-COVID-19 2020, with significantly greater changes than the same time period of 2017 to 2019 and significant reductions in albuterol and inhaled corticosteroid use (P < .05). Emergency department visit reduction was not seen for African Americans. The PM2.5 and influenza rates were also significantly reduced during COVID-19 (P < .05). Increased rates in telehealth visits were greater in the publicly insured group when compared with commercially insured.CONCLUSION:
Our data confirm reduced health care utilization and suggest better asthma control during COVID-19, except for African Americans. This was associated with a significant increase in telehealth visits and reductions in PM2.5 and influenza infections, but not better asthma controller adherence.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Asthma
/
Influenza, Human
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
Journal subject:
Allergy and Immunology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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