From explaining currently understood risks to regulating the exposure of allergens caused by loneliness, asthmatics can have concerns that clinicians deal with.
As covered by Lakiea Wright, MD, in a previous interview section with HCPLive® during the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) 2021 Significant Sessions, a series of new studies presented at this weekend’s annual meeting showed that the link between COVID-19 risk and asthma status may be specific to various phenotypes, treatment regimes, and biomarkers.
In the second part of her discussion with AAAAI 2021 with HCPLive, Wright, of Brigham and Women ‘s Hospital and Thermo Fisher Scientific, explained what clinicians should derive from this latest research in addressing the concerns of asthmatic patients during the pandemic.
“I would say there is a lot of information out there, we still understand it, and the pace at which we are trying to understand SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 is so fast,” Wright said. “It is very good to take home that we have a meta-analysis that suggests asthma in general is a risk factor for COVID-19, but we want to ensure that patients with asthma have asthma control during the pandemic. . ”
Wright identified the issues with adherence to asthma control and patients’ confidence in using their medication – deficiencies in the field exacerbated by the likelihood of a patient being disturbed. COVID-19 concerns to make a personal clinical visit to correct these issues.
“I would say the focus is always on discipline, control, control,” Wright said.
Wright also discussed the risk from asthma-causing viruses including rhinovirus – and the benefit of wearing a mask against these risks in addition to COVID-19. In addition, patients are more likely to exhibit indoor allergen exposures at isolated times and social distance commands.