Therapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during the COVID-ig pandemic

ABSTRACT

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease that is characterized by long-term respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. It is important to investigate whether patients with COPD are at the increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and what are the clinical outcomes of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since both diseases affect the respiratory tract, the purpose of this review was to determine whether there is an interrelationship between COPD and COVID-19. Currently, it is not clear whether COPD patients are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection;however, it is confirmed that, if they are affected by COVID-19, there is a higher rate of hospitalisation and death. COPD patients should continue prescribed COPD therapy even if they have COVID-19 infection because it is not confirmed that taking these medications changes the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection. Protective measures are very important in times of higher prevalence of COVID-19 since they reduce the risk of infection and help COPD patients maintain their health. Copyright © 2022 Hrvatsko Farmaceutsko Drustvo. All rights reserved.