THE IMPACT OF ASTHMA AND ATOPY ON COVID-19 DISEASE SEVERITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

ABSTRACT

Purpose of Study To identify whether asthmatic and atopic children and adolescents had less severe disease and lower mortality from COVID-19 than their non-asthmatic counterparts. Methods Used This was a retrospective chart review from March 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021. Subjects recruited were over a year of age and below 20 years of age and tested positive for COVID-19 or were COVID-19 antibody positive when they presented to the emergency department (ED). Subjects were grouped according to disease severity and divided into asthmatic and atopic or non-asthmatic. A total of 1,933 patients were included, 1,821 non-asthmatic, and 112 asthmatic and atopic. Summary of Results Asthmatic and atopic children are less likely to be seen in the ED for COVID-related disease, but if presented to the ED, they were significantly more likely to be hospitalized, require oxygen, have longer hospital stays, and have more severe forms of COVID-19 than non-asthmatic children. Conclusions Asthmatic and atopic children, though less likely to be seen in ED with COVID-19, were more likely to have severe disease than non-asthmatic children once they presented to the ED. (Table Presented).