RESEARCH

Kids with asthma not at higher risk of COVID�19, study finds Mary Van Beusekom | News Writer | CIDRAP News , March 11, 2022

Topics: COVID�19

Children and adolescents diagnosed as having asthma are at

similar risk for COVID-19 infection as those without asthma,

according to a study today in Pediatrics that controlled for factors

tied to SARS-CoV-2 testing.

The prepublication peer-reviewed study, conducted by Duke

University researchers, involved retrospective review of the

electronic health records of 46,900 children 5 to 17 years old in

North Carolina, of whom 6,324 (13.5%) had asthma, to identify

COVID-19 diagnoses from Mar 1, 2020, to Sep 30, 2021.

The study period spanned the emergence and dominance of the

Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant but was before Omicron.

A total of 10,566 (22.5%) children were tested at least once for

COVID-19. Pediatric asthma patients were more likely than those

without asthma to undergo COVID-19 testing (33.0% vs 20.9%).

Children of "other" racial minority groups and those with self-pay

insurance were less likely to be tested for COVID-19, while those

with public insurance and higher neighborhood deprivation index

scores were more likely to undergo testing.

A total of 1,864 children (4.0%) tested positive for COVID-19, including 350 (5.5%) with asthma and 1,514

(3.7%) without asthma.

Among the 1,864 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, 34 (1.8%) were hospitalized within 30 days, 3

of whom had asthma. Of these children, 8 (0.5%) were hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19, including 7

of 1,514 children without asthma (0.5%) and 1 of 350 with asthma (0.3%). One child without asthma was

hospitalized for treatment of multisystem in�ammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Equal proportion of infection with, without asthma Relative to children without asthma, those with asthma were more likely to be boys (58% vs 50%), to be

Black (56% to 37%), have public insurance (59% vs 49%), have had a well-child visit in the last 2 years (73%

vs 52%), and to have had more healthcare visits in the preceding year (median, 3 vs 1).

In a propensity score-matched cohort of 12,648 children, 706 (5.6%) tested positive for COVID-19, 350

(2.8%) of whom had asthma, and 356 (2.8%) of whom did not (risk ratio, 0.98; 95% con�dence interval, 0.85

to 1.13). These results weren't modi�ed by inhaled corticosteroid prescription, history of severe asthma

exacerbation, or coexisting allergic disease.

The study authors noted that asthma is the most common chronic condition and a leading cause of

hospitalization among children and adolescents. While the study didn't show an increased risk for COVID-

19 infection among asthma patients, the researchers said that asthma could mitigate infection risk through

reduced levels of cell surface proteins that mediate SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.

In addition, inhaled corticosteroids could dampen host in�ammatory responses and decrease viral

replication, and infection-prevention behaviors that may be common among children with asthma could

reduce the risk of infection.

"Despite the continued general precaution regarding asthma and COVID-19, we found no evidence that

asthma predisposes children to SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe illness from COVID-19," the researchers

wrote. "Importantly, we identi�ed marked disparities in SARS-CoV-2 testing based on sociodemographic

factors, highlighting the need for improved access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and care among certain vulnerable

pediatric populations."

The authors called for further research to evaluate the relationship between chronic medical conditions

such as asthma and SARS-CoV-2 infection and to monitor the e�ect of variants and vaccination strategies

on COVID-19 infection in children.

Prostock-Studio / iStock

SHARE

RELATED NEWS US respiratory virus levels remain high as flu rises in central states March 1, 2024 Lisa Schnirring

US veterans—COVID- infected or not—report impaired function after pandemic March 1, 2024 Mary Van Beusekom

Monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine shows 51% protection against COVID hospitalization February 29, 2024 Stephanie Soucheray

Even fully recovered survivors of mild COVID can lose IQ points, study suggests February 29, 2024 Mary Van Beusekom

University of Minnesota http://twin-cities.umn.edu/

612 625 5000

N E W S L E T T E R S

N E W S

T O P I C S & P R O J E C T S

P O D C A S T S

A B O U T

SUPPORT

Get CIDRAP updates

THIS WEEK'S TOP READS

OUR UNDERWRITERS

Researchers identify mechanism behind brain fog in long COVID The new �ndings could pave the way for better diagnosis and future treatments.

Lisa Schnirring | February 22, 2024

1

Study shows persistent COVID�19 infections fairly common As many as 1 to 3 out of every 100 COVID-19 infections in the UK persist longer

than 30 days.

Stephanie Soucheray | February 22, 2024

2

US flu levels stubbornly high as COVID declines further Flu activity increased in �ve regions: the Northeast, New England, the Middle

Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Central states.

Lisa Schnirring | February 23, 2024

3

CDC advisers recommend spring COVID booster for seniors The group settled on stronger wording to clarify advice for patients and simplify

decisions for clinicians.

Lisa Schnirring | February 28, 2024

4

New large study indicates vaccines protective against long COVID The risk of all-cause mortality dropped even further among patients with a booster

dose of vaccine

Stephanie Soucheray | February 27, 2024

5

Even fully recovered survivors of mild COVID can lose IQ points, study suggests COVID-19 survivors whose symptoms had resolved in less than 4 weeks or at least

12 weeks had comparable small de�cits in cognitive function.

Mary Van Beusekom | February 29, 2024

6

Avian flu reaches Antarctica's mainland The birds were found near a polar research base on the northern tip of Antarctica.

Lisa Schnirring | February 26, 2024

7

CDC announces new respiratory virus guidance, ends COVID isolation policy The CDC says weekly hospital admissions for COVID-19 this year have decreased by

more than 75% and deaths by more than 90% compared to January 2022.

Stephanie Soucheray | March 1, 2024

8

Monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine shows 51% protection against COVID hospitalization Among adults 65 years and older, vaccine e�ectiveness was 54% in the �rst 7 to 59

days.

Stephanie Soucheray | February 29, 2024

9

Chikungunya vaccine recommended for US travelers in outbreak settings The recommendation applies to people traveling to outbreak areas and others at extra risk from the virus.

Lisa Schnirring | February 28, 2024

10

Choose newsletters

Select all

Email address

Daily Headlines

Antimicrobial Stewardship Newsletter

Chronic Wasting Disease Newsletter

Flu Vaccine Roadmap Newsletter

Resilient Drug Supply Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE

H O M E E D I T O R I A L P O L I C Y S E A R C H N E W S

Contact Us CIDRAP - Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy

Research and Innovation O�ce, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

© 2024 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights Reserved.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer

Research and Innovation O�ce |   Contact U of M  |  Privacy Policy

UNRESTRICTED FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

BECOME AN UNDERWRITER

Help make CIDRAP's vital work possible SUPPORT US

EMAIL US

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE

Principal Underwriter Leading Underwriter Major Underwriter Supporting Underwriter

Choose newsletters

Select all

Daily Headlines

Antimicrobial Stewardship Newsletter

Chronic Wasting Disease Newsletter

Flu Vaccine Roadmap Newsletter

Resilient Drug Supply Newsletter