Pediatric asthma control during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic
review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: During the current ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, studies had
reported that patients with asthma would experience increased
asthma-associated morbidity because of the respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2
infection, based on experience with other respiratory viral infections.
However, some studies suggested that there was no apparent increase in
asthma related morbidity in children with asthma, it is even possible
that due to reduced exposures due to confinement, such children may have
improved outcomes. In order to understand the impact of Covid-19 on
asthma control in children, we performed this systematic review and
meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library
to find literature from December 2019 to June 2021 related to Covid-19
and children’s asthma control, among which results such as abstracts,
comments, letters, reviews and case reports were excluded. The level of
asthma control during the COVID-19 pandemic was synthesized and
discussed. Results: A total of 20456 subjects were included in 7
studies. Random effect model is used to account for the data. Compared
to the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic, asthma exacerbation,
asthma admission, emergency room visit reduced a lot. The outcome of use
of inhaled corticosteroids and Beta-2 agonists shows no significant
difference. Conclusion: Compared to the same period before the COVID-19
pandemic and the measures in response to it, the level of asthma control
has been significantly improved. We need to understand the exact factors
leading to these improvements and find methods to sustain it.