Living with the risk of being infected: Asthma patients' experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: People with asthma are particularly vulnerable because of the increased risk of a severe disease course, and therefore a number of them choose physical isolation to protect themselves from COVID-19. Aim(s) To explore the feeling of living with the risk of coronavirus infection in asthma patients and the measures taken to protect themselves. Material(s) and Method(s) This is a prospective study of 66 asthmatic patients followed up in a pneumo-allergology consultation at the Hassan II hospital in Agadir during the 6-month period (June-December 2021). Result(s) The age of the patients ranged from 17 to 76 years, the average age was 41, 36+/- 13, 31 years. There was a predominance of females in this sample, with females accounting for 54.5% of patients compared to 45.5% of males. 27.2% were infected with Covid-19. Living with the threat of coronavirus infection greatly affected the daily lives of asthma patients. 45% missed their follow-up appointments, 23% of the patients stopped their treatment, 62.4% were more careful in taking protective measures. The nagging fear of coronavirus as a threat to life was a dominant feeling (41.3%), as was anxiety in 60.6% of patients. Conclusion(s) Patients with moderate to severe asthma feared death from COVID-19 and therefore felt compelled to self-insulate. Hence the need for more distance education and telemedicine.