Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort
Introduction Following the recent COVID-19 lockdown, a reduction in emergency healthcare visits was reported. Infectious diseases were less often diagnosed, while it was not clear if this was due to a decrease in prevalence or a decrease in emergency healthcare visits due to fear of COVID-19.Methods...
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| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000758.full |
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| author | Gert-Jan Braunstahl Rudi Hendriks Geertje de Boer Gerdien Tramper-Stranders |
| author_facet | Gert-Jan Braunstahl Rudi Hendriks Geertje de Boer Gerdien Tramper-Stranders |
| author_sort | Gert-Jan Braunstahl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Following the recent COVID-19 lockdown, a reduction in emergency healthcare visits was reported. Infectious diseases were less often diagnosed, while it was not clear if this was due to a decrease in prevalence or a decrease in emergency healthcare visits due to fear of COVID-19.Methods This study comprises a follow-up from a recently finished randomised controlled trial, to gain insight into the prevalence of asthma exacerbation and fear of COVID-19 in patients with moderate-severe asthma and controls in the Netherlands. Participants, patients with asthma and controls, were invited to fill out a short survey by email or post. Exacerbation frequencies until 1 July 2020 were verified with the hospitals’ and general practitioners’ medical records, pharmacies and patient interviews.Results In quarter 2 of 2020, mean exacerbation frequency per patient was significantly lower (χ2(3)=9.91, p=0.019) compared with quarter 2 in previous years. Patients with asthma were more likely to avoid (38.8%; controls, 0.0%, p<0.01) or delay (24.5%; controls, 0.0%, p=0.02) essential medical visits due to fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection at medical facilities.Conclusion In conclusion, we found a significantly reduced asthma exacerbation frequency during COVID-19 social distancing measures compared with previous years. Patients with asthma also showed more anxiety towards (acquiring) COVID-19 infection.Trial registration number NL8576. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-617902a4b6404c44865a247c6d81c1f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2052-4439 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-617902a4b6404c44865a247c6d81c1f32024-11-24T14:55:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Respiratory Research2052-44392021-01-018110.1136/bmjresp-2020-000758Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohortGert-Jan Braunstahl0Rudi Hendriks1Geertje de Boer2Gerdien Tramper-Stranders35 Department of Pulmonology, Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsPulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsPulmonary Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis and Vlietland, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsPediatrics, Franciscus Gasthuis and Vlietland, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsIntroduction Following the recent COVID-19 lockdown, a reduction in emergency healthcare visits was reported. Infectious diseases were less often diagnosed, while it was not clear if this was due to a decrease in prevalence or a decrease in emergency healthcare visits due to fear of COVID-19.Methods This study comprises a follow-up from a recently finished randomised controlled trial, to gain insight into the prevalence of asthma exacerbation and fear of COVID-19 in patients with moderate-severe asthma and controls in the Netherlands. Participants, patients with asthma and controls, were invited to fill out a short survey by email or post. Exacerbation frequencies until 1 July 2020 were verified with the hospitals’ and general practitioners’ medical records, pharmacies and patient interviews.Results In quarter 2 of 2020, mean exacerbation frequency per patient was significantly lower (χ2(3)=9.91, p=0.019) compared with quarter 2 in previous years. Patients with asthma were more likely to avoid (38.8%; controls, 0.0%, p<0.01) or delay (24.5%; controls, 0.0%, p=0.02) essential medical visits due to fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection at medical facilities.Conclusion In conclusion, we found a significantly reduced asthma exacerbation frequency during COVID-19 social distancing measures compared with previous years. Patients with asthma also showed more anxiety towards (acquiring) COVID-19 infection.Trial registration number NL8576.https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000758.full |
| spellingShingle | Gert-Jan Braunstahl Rudi Hendriks Geertje de Boer Gerdien Tramper-Stranders Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort BMJ Open Respiratory Research |
| title | Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort |
| title_full | Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort |
| title_fullStr | Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort |
| title_short | Asthma exacerbation prevalence during the COVID-19 lockdown in a moderate-severe asthma cohort |
| title_sort | asthma exacerbation prevalence during the covid 19 lockdown in a moderate severe asthma cohort |
| url | https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000758.full |
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