Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34849374›Full record

ArticleERJ open research2021

Is asthma associated with COVID-19 infection? A UK Biobank analysis.

Caroline J Lodge, Alice Doherty, Dinh S Bui, Raisa Cassim, Adrian J Lowe, Alvar Agusti, Melissa A Russell, Shyamali C Dharmage

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ERJ open research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. A Review of the Role of Pollen in COVID-19 Infection.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.

Caroline J LodgeAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2342-3888
Alice DohertyAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Dinh S BuiAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Raisa CassimAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8982-3019
Adrian J LoweAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4691-8162
Alvar AgustiCentro de Investigation Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Spain.
Melissa A RussellAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3422-3726
Shyamali C DharmageAllergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4388-784X
The University of Melbourne · AUCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias · ES

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_17228Medical Research Council MC_QA137853
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe relationship between asthma and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk is not clear and may be influenced by level of airway obstruction, asthma medication and known COVID-19 risk factors. We aimed to investigate COVID-19 risk in people with asthma.

methodsWe used UK Biobank data from all participants tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (n=107 412; 17 979 test positive). Questions at baseline defined ever asthma and asthma medications. Baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV

resultsThere was a reduced risk of a positive test associated with early-onset asthma (<13 years) (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99). This was found for participants with early-onset asthma who were male (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.98), nonsmokers (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.98), overweight/obese (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77-0.93) and non-Black (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.98). There was increased risk amongst early-onset individuals with asthma in the highest compared to lowest quartile of lung function (1.44, 1.05-1.72).

conclusionAmongst male, nonsmoking, overweight/obese and non-Black participants, having early-onset asthma was associated with lower risk of a SARS-CoV-2 positive test. We found no evidence of a protective effect from asthma medication. Individuals with early-onset asthma of normal weight and with better lung function may have lifestyle differences placing them at higher risk. Further research is needed to elucidate the contribution of asthma pathophysiology and different health-related behaviour, across population groups, to the observed risks.

Identifiers

PMID34849374
PMCPMC8449950
OpenAlexW3201137856

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.