Asthma status during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background and Aims: The social restrictions in COVID- 19 pandemic can affect to patient's asthma status. The use of telecommunications by the physician to know the patient's asthma status during pandemic is recommended. This study aims to determine patient's asthma status before the COVID-19 pandemic compared to one year after. Methods: This preliminary study was a retrospective cohort which was conducted in March of 2020 and March of 2021 at Asthma Polyclinic, Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta. The subjects were asthma patients who visited Asthma Polyclinic in March of 2020 and requires an ACT score. Patients who didn't come to Asthma Polyclinic in March of 2021 will be contacted by the researchers. Results: The ACT score in March of 2020 are 6% patients had fully controlled asthma, 34% of partial controlled asthma and 60% of uncontrolled asthma while in March of 2021, 26% have fully controlled asthma, 26% of partial controlled asthma and 48% of uncontrolled asthma. There was a significant difference between ACT score in March of 2020 and March of 2021 with a p value 0.020. The patient's activities during pandemic was decreasing, 80% patients who didn't work, while 20% were still working. There was a significant difference between patient's severity of asthma and ACT score in March of 2021 with a p value <0,05. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between the ACT score in March of 2020 and March of 2021, also a significant difference between patient's severity of asthma and ACT score in March of 2021.