Medicus, Vol. 29 No. 2 COVID-19, 2020.
Review article
COVID-19 and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (Asthma and COPD)
Žarko Vrbica
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an acute respiratory disease that can lead to respiratory failure and death. This article is focused on patients with chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Both diseases appear to be under-represented in the comorbidities reported for patients with COVID-19, but there is increased mortality among COVID-19 patients who have COPD as a comorbidity. The potential benefits or harms of inhaled corticosteroids and other treatments for people at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or patients with COVID-19 are unclear at present, and no changes to the treatment or management of chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma, should be considered at this stage. Asthma and COPD patients should be treated according to the latest guidelines, aiming at maximal possible control of the disease and maintaining optimal pulmonary function. While asthma patients are not seen as high-risk compared to the standard population, COPD patients should be considered high-risk and protected according to current epidemiologic recommendations. Delivering aerosolized medications to patients with COVID-19 can aggravate the spread of the new coronavirus, and special measures should be taken to minimize that risk. Aerosol producing diagnostic tests (spirometry, bronchoscopy) should be postponed in all non-urgent patients. In urgent patients it should be performed with proper protective measures and possibly after COVID-19 testing.
Keywords
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; asthma; COPD
Hrčak ID:
244327
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2020.
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