Characteristics and outcomes of asthmatic outpatients with COVID-19 who receive home telesurveillance

Abstract

BackgroundThe prognosis of asthmatic outpatients with COVID-19 needs to be clarified. The objectives of this study were: 1) to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of asthmatic patients receiving initial ambulatory care and home monitoring for COVID-19 with Covidom, a telesurveillance solution; and 2) to compare the characteristics and outcomes between asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients.MethodsInclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis allowing initial ambulatory care, registration in Covidom between March 2020 and April 2021 and completion of the initial medical questionnaire. We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes between asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients, and we evaluated whether asthma was independently associated with clinical worsening (hospitalisation or death) within 30 days follow-up using a multivariate logistic regression model.Results33 815 patients met the inclusion criteria. Asthma was reported in 4276 (12.6%). The main comorbidities among asthmatic patients were obesity (23.1%), hypertension (12.7%) and diabetes (4.5%). As compared with non-asthmatic patients, asthmatic patients were more often female (70.0versus62.1%, p<0.001), of younger age (42.2versus43.8 years, p<0.001) and obese (23.1versus17.6%, p<0.001). The rate of hospitalisation did not differ significantly (4.7versus4.2%, p=0.203) and no asthmatic patient died during follow-up (versus25 non-asthmatic patients, 0.1%; p=0.109). In multivariate analysis, asthma was independently associated with higher risk of clinical worsening (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04–1.44, p=0.013).ConclusionIn a large French cohort of patients receiving initial ambulatory care and home monitoring for COVID-19, asthma was independently associated with higher risk of clinical worsening although no asthmatic patient died within the 30 days follow-up.