Adherence to application technique of inhaled corticosteroid in patients with asthma and COVID-19 improves outcomes.
Aleš TichopádJan ŽigmondMiloš JeseňákIvan SolovičKatarína BrecikováMarian RybářMartin RožánekVratislav SedlákPublished in: BMJ open respiratory research (2024)
Higher quality of inhalation technique of corticosteroids measured by adherence to an inhaled medication application technique (A-AppIT) score had a significant positive effect on reversal of the vital capacity and forced expiratory lung volume in 1 s worsening (p=0.027 and p<0.0001, respectively) due to COVID-19. Scoring higher in the A-AppIT was also associated with significantly improved QoL. All measured variables concordantly and without exception showed a positive improvement in response to better adherence. We suggest that corticosteroids provide protection against the worsening of lungs in patients with COVID-19 and that correct and easily assessable adherence to corticosteroids with appropriate inhalation technique play an important role in preventing severe form of COVID-19.