An audit of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the emotional wellbeing of children and parents with problematic severe asthma

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic and the associated redeployment of healthcare infrastructure had a significant impact on normal services. Amongst a cohort with severe asthma children and young persons, attending a regional service, this questionnaire explored the impact of the pandemic and associated lockdown on emotional well-being. Our findings suggest that there were significant anxieties associated with the ability to access primary and secondary care services, medication during the pandemic – lockdown, as well as the psychological impact of social distancing and missing school work for this cohort. There was a common perception that this had adversely impacted their asthma control, although this was not clinically correlated. Our results indicate the need for health care providers to be aware of the psychological impact on the emotional wellbeing of the pandemic and offer appropriate help and counselling as needed. A correlation with deteriorating asthma control may need to be explored.