People with asthma have a lower risk of being infected with the virus.
- Asthma is characterized by hyperactivity of the muscular wall of the bronchi.
- Four million people are affected in France.
- The disease would not increase the risk of death in the event of infection with Covid-19.
At the start of the coronavirus epidemic, in March 2020, people with asthma were supposed to be at risk from Covid-19. Since then, studies have shown that this respiratory disease was not an aggravating factor. From Arizona Health University researchers explain that it could even protect against the virus! They are currently conducting research on the subject.
Few asthmatics among cases of severe forms
The SARS-CoV-2 virus infects cells through the receptor for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Its main role is to relax the veins and lower blood pressure. Monica Kraft, associate director of the Center for Asthma and Airway Disease Research at the Arizona School of Medicine, and her team found that proteins that govern asthma-induced inflammation reduce the expression of ACE2. “Asthma appears to confer some degree of protection against COVID-19, as the ACE2 receptor is reduced in asthma, explains Monica Kraft. We have seen far fewer asthma flare-ups during the pandemic. When you look at all the comorbidities of patients admitted with a severe form of COVID-19, asthma does not stand out as one of them.”
A previous APHP study
In July 2020, a APHP study had already been interested in the effects of Covid-19 on people with asthma. “Infections linked to respiratory-tropic viruses (rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, etc.) are the main cause of exacerbation of asthma and may be associated with severe respiratory episodes in asthmatic patients“, specified the researchers in the preamble. However, the authors have demonstrated that “IAsthmatics were not at increased risk of developing a severe form of the disease“. Among asthma patients hospitalized because of SARS-CoV-2, there were no more deaths than in the group of non-asthmatic patients.
Future research on asthma and Covid-19
The Arizona School of Medicine science team recently received funding to continue research into asthma and respiratory viruses. One aspect of their work still relates to Covid-19. Researchers will work on surfactant protein A, which has anti-inflammatory effects in asthma, and on cytokines, small proteins that activate the immune system. Both can limit the action of the coronavirus by reducing the expression of the ACE2 receptor. The researchers believe that the synergy between the two could offer protection against COVID-19. For University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, this research has “the potential to help millions of people around the world who suffer from asthma while expanding knowledge about SARS-CoV-2″.
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