Covid-19, COPD, and Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

With the pandemic, as countries went into lockdown and industrial activities shut down, pollutant emission reduced substantially, and environmental air quality improve. This could have contributed to the reported of reduction in hospital admission for COPD during the COVID-19 pandemic, but COPD patients as at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 and multimorbid survivors frequently have required prolonged ICU stay. People with asthma do not appear to be at increased risk of acquiring COVID-19, and systematic reviews have not shown an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in people with asthma. Overall, people with asthma are not at increased risk of COVID-19-related death. Patients with COPD presenting with new or worsening respiratory symptoms, fever and or any other symptoms that could be COVID-19 related, even if these are mild, should be tested for possible infection with SARS-CoV-2. Spirometry should be restricted to patients requiring urgent or essential tests for the diagnosis of COPD, or to assess lung function status for interventional procedures or surgery. Patients should keep tasking their respiratory medications for COPD without changes. Shielding/sheltering or physical distance are not same of social isolation and inactivity. They should ensure they have enough medication and contact with friends and families by telecommunications.