World Asthma Day: Recent updates on risk for COVID-19, new treatment options and more

May 5 is World Asthma Day. The Healio Editors have compiled a list of recent asthma news in recognition of World Asthma Day.

World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to raise awareness of asthma worldwide. According to the WHO, more than 339 million individuals worldwide have asthma.

Recent asthma updates posted to Healio include research on the risk for COVID-19 and poor outcomes, new data on dupilumab in patients with uncontrolled asthma and adherence to asthma biologic therapies.

Read these articles, and others, below.

Q&A: COVID-19 risk, vaccination in patients with asthma

The relationship between asthma and severity of COVID-19 remains unclear. Research continues to accumulate on the effect of asthma on COVID-19 severity. Read more

Study highlights reduction in asthma exacerbations during COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers reported a significant decline in asthma exacerbations during the COVID-19 pandemic across all age groups, sexes and most regions in England. Read more

Dupilumab treatment led to clinical remission in patients with uncontrolled asthma

Dupilumab treatment led to clinical asthma remission in patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma with type 2 inflammation, according to a post hoc analysis of the LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study. Read more

High anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic may be risk factor for clinical worsening of asthma

High anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic is a potential risk factor for clinical worsening of severe asthma and decline in quality of life, researchers reported. Read more

Adherence to asthma biologic therapy higher than inhaled corticosteroids

In a new study, adherence to asthma biologic therapy was higher than adherence to inhaled corticosteroids among adults with asthma. Read more

Eosinophilia in patients with asthma may be protective against severe COVID-19

Eosinophilia may be an important predictive factor for COVID-19-associated hospital admission and decreased mortality in patients with asthma, according to data published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Read more

Study finds no evidence patients with asthma at high risk for adverse COVID-19 outcomes

A review of 150 studies yielded “no clear evidence” that patients with asthma are at increased risk for COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalization, severity or mortality. Read more

Higher omega-3 intake in childhood may lower asthma risk in children with common variant

Higher omega-3 fatty acid intake in childhood was associated with lower risk for incident asthma up to mid-adolescence in children with a fatty acid desaturase polymorphism variant, researchers reported in the European Respiratory Journal. Read more

Responsiveness to parenteral corticosteroids may aid in predicting lung function trajectory

In adults with moderate to severe asthma, responsiveness to parenteral corticosteroids may be useful to predict lung function decline. Read more

Pollution exposure, preexisting asthma or COPD may raise odds of COVID-19 hospitalization

Among patients with COVID-19 and preexisting asthma or COPD, long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with higher odds for hospitalization, according to results of a pilot study published in Respiratory Medicine. Read more