LONG-TERM MORTALITY IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 AND PREEXISTING ASTHMA

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Post-COVID-19 Outcomes SESSION TYPE Rapid Fire Original Inv PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1115 am - 1215 pm PURPOSE: Asthma can be exacerbated by various triggers, including infections. One of the most frequent causes of exacerbations is respiratory viral infections. Therefore, asthmatics were expected to have worse outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. While mortality has often been measured in the first 30 days of diagnosis, there is paucity of data regarding the impact of pre-existing asthma in the long-term mortality after a hospitalization for COVID19. We investigated the association between pre-existing asthma and long-term all-cause mortality rate among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study from the South Texas Veterans Health Care System between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 that included adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The cohort was stratified into two groups pre-existing asthma vs. non-asthmatics patients. The patients were followed up to 365 post-index date of the COVID-19 diagnosis. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 365 days. Continuous variables were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IR) and categorical variables were reported as absolute frequencies and percentages. Multivariable analysis, including the Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to adjust for the comorbidity burden excluding asthma. RESULTS: We included 604 patients that required admission with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Pre-existing asthma occurred in 11% (n=66) of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Asthmatic patients were younger with a median age of 64 years old (IQR 52-71) and less likely to be men (79%) compared to non-asthmatics with a median age of 68 (IQR 54-74) and 94% men, respectively. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was similar between asthmatics (median score of 3 [IQR of 2-7]) and non-asthmatic (median score of 3 [IQR 1-6]) COVID-19 hospitalized patients. The mortality rate within 365 days was numerically lower among asthmatics was 13.6% (n=9/66) when compared to non-asthmatics 21.6% (n=116/538) (p=0.13). Five of the 9 asthmatic patients died within the first 30 days post-COVID-19 diagnosis. In the multivariate analysis adjusted by Charlson Comorbidity Index, asthmatics had no statistically significant difference in mortality when compared to non-asthmatics COVID-19 patients (aOR=1.80;95%IC 0.84-3.87;p=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between pre-existing asthma and all-cause mortality rate measured within 365 days after diagnosis of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Further assessment of asthma disease severity and specific therapies may assist clinicians on the potential protective effect seen in COVID-19 patients. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by FRANKLIN ARGUETA No relevant relationships by Michael Mader Consultant relationship with GSK Please note $5001 - $20000 by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with AstraZeneca Please note $5001 - $20000 by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with Sanofi/Regeneron Please note $5001 - $20000 by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Consulting fee Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with GSK Please note 1 year by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Consulting fee Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with AstraZeneca Please note 1 year by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Honoraria Speaker/Speaker's Bureau relationship with Sanofi/Regeneron Please note 1 year by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Honoraria Consultant relationship with Amgen Please note 10/1/2021 Added 04/04/2022 by Diego Maselli Caceres, value=Consulting fee No relevant relationships by Marcos Restrepo No relevant relationships by Sandra Sanchez-Reilly No relevant relationships by Kara Zabelny