Inhaled corticosteroids may have a protective effect against coronavirus infection

• Published in: Allergologia et immunopathologia 2021-01, Vol.49 (1), p.113-117
• Main Authors: Armentia, Alicia, Cortés, Sara Fernández, Simón, Angela Moro, Martín-Armentia, Blanca, Martín-Armentia, Sara, Pollo, Daniel Ramos, Cañadas, Juan Claudio Navarro, Caño, Javier Visa, Rubiales, Álvaro Sanz, Fra, Joaquín Rodriguez, Vaquero, Sara García, Pazos, Marta Cano, de la Calle, Jesús Galán, Lowell, Edgardo Raul, Soto, Cristina Crespo, Toledano, Carmen Sánchez, Salgado, Aurora Sacristán
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergens; Allergies; Asthma; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - virology; Asymptomatic; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnostic imaging; COVID-19 - physiopathology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease; Epidemics; Female; Gastroenteritis; Hospitals; Humans; Immunology; Immunotherapy; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing Homes; Pandemics; Prognosis; Questionnaires; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spain; Steroids; Telemedicine; Viral infections
• ISSN: 0301-0546; 1578-1267; 0301-0546
• DOI: 10.15586/aei.v49i1.40

Spain has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, with 195,944 persons infected and 20,453 deaths at the time of writing. Older people with respiratory or cardiac conditions are most at risk. The aim was to compare respiratory symptoms in nursing home residents and patients with uncontrolled asthma, who are considered vulnerable to COVID-19. We studied 134 nursing home residents and 139 patients with uncontrolled asthma, groups vulnerable to COVID-19. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, outcomes, key laboratory results, and radiological images were collected from medical records. COVID-19 infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirteen (9.3%) patients with uncontrolled asthma, all receiving inhaled corticosteroids were infected by COVID-19. Eighty (60%) nursing home residents were infected; only 28, all of whom had received inhaled corticosteroids, had a good prognosis. Early treatment with inhaled corticosteroids may be helpful in COVID-19 infection. Persons with an allergy might have some protective mechanisms against coronavirus.