COPD but Not Asthma Associated with Worse COVID-19 Outcomes

Takeaway

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not asthma, was significantly associated with COVID-19-related hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality.

Why this matters

• Findings suggest that patients with COPD should take special precautions to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Study design

• UK researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 37 studies (n=1,678,992) identified through a literature search across electronic databases.
• Risks of COVID-19-related hospitalisation, ICU admission and mortality were evaluated in patients with COPD and asthma.
• Funding: None disclosed.

Key results

• COPD was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related (adjusted OR [aOR]; 95% CI):
  • hospitalisation (1.390; 1.307-1.478; P<.001);
  • ICU admission (1.336; 1.139-1.566; P<.001; I², 66.643); and
  • mortality (1.276; 1.176-1.385; P<.001).
• Asthma was not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related (aOR; 95% CI):
  • hospitalisation (0.873; 0.726-1.049; P=.148; I², 85.355);
  • ICU admission (0.746; 0.545-1.020; P=.067; I², 87.198); and
  • mortality (0.827; 0.711-0.961; P=.013; I², 61.481).
• In the Cox regression model, COPD (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.296; 95% CI, 1.170-1.436; P<.001; I², 88.386), but not asthma (aHR, 0.930; 95% CI, 0.865-1.000; P=.049; I², 64.176), was associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Limitations

• Heterogeneity among studies.
• Risk of bias.
   

This clinical summary originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.