How COVID may affect your asthma

Many chronic health issues have been linked to more severe COVID infection, including asthma. When the pandemic began, people with asthma were cautioned to consider themselves at a greater risk of severe illness from COVID. Over time, however, newer research suggests the situation is not quite that simple. Scientists have learned that the link between asthma and COVID risk may not be so clear, and it may depend on severe or well-controlled it is.

What we know about asthma and COVID risk

People with moderate to severe asthma, and especially those whose asthma is not well controlled, may be at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those with asthma might be associated with a greater risk for complications, too, since COVID (like all respiratory infections) may trigger asthma attacks, or cause pneumonia and respiratory failure in some people.

But a March 2022 narrative review published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice found no link between most types of asthma and worse COVID outcomes. In April 2022, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) echoed these findings, stating that up to that point, research had still not confirmed a link between asthma and more severe or deadly cases of COVID. (At the same time, the ACAAI noted that respiratory infections are always best to avoid if you have asthma.)

More recently, in January 2024, researchers published a scoping review in Environmental Health Insights that offered more hopeful news. The review looked at 21 different studies. Four of those studies found that asthma was a risk factor for severe illness from COVID—but 17 studies did not find any link between asthma and COVID severity.

More research, and particularly large-scale studies, are needed to confirm this finding, and to understand more specifically how different medications, genetic factors, and other health conditions can affect the risk level of a person with asthma. But overall, a picture is emerging that isn’t as black and white as once thought. Instead, people with different types and degrees of asthma may respond differently to a COVID infection, and risk levels are dependent on what kind of asthma you have, as well as how well you manage it.

Stick to your asthma management plan

To stay healthy and reduce your risk of severe COVID, if you have asthma, it’s important to always continue your treatment as directed by your doctor to help prevent flare-ups. Here are some additional tips:

• Check to make sure your prescriptions haven’t expired
• Make sure you understand what your asthma triggers are and learn how to avoid them
• Get the flu vaccine each year
• Be mindful about your stress levels and take steps to manage it

Be sure to stay in touch with your healthcare provider (HCP), too, and discuss any new or worsening symptoms. And while there’s no way to guarantee you’ll avoid COVID infection, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Follow these basic public-health precautions to avoid catching the virus:

• Stay up to date with your COVID vaccinations
• If you or those around you are known to have COVID, keep your distance from other people
• If your local community levels of COVID are high, wear a facemask when going out in public and avoid crowds
• Be sure to keep your living and working spaces ventilated and disinfected
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Wash your hands well and often with soap and water

When you need to wear a mask, choose one that’s comfortable and that fits snugly around your face. Asthma will not be worsened by wearing a facemask, nor will oxygen saturation be lowered, according to the ACAAI. A good N95 or KN95 mask may even protect you from pollen, a common trigger for allergy-induced asthma (asthma triggered by common allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander).