Impact of comorbid asthma and determinant factors on the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in Ethiopia

Several comorbid diseases were associated with worse clinical outcomes of COVID-19. However, the impact of comorbid asthma on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 is not known in Ethiopia.

To assess the impact of asthma and determinant factors on the clinical outcomes of COVID-2019 in Ethiopia.

A retrospective cohort study involving 702 COVID-19 patients from March 13, 2020, to January 30, 2022. Data were collected on patients’ sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, drug-related, and clinical outcomes variables. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.

Among a total of 702 COVID-19 patients, 132 (18.8%) had asthma. There were no significant mortality rate and respiratory failure differences between COVID-19 patients with comorbid asthma (13.6 vs. 13%, p = 0.930 and 36.4 vs. 21.4%, p = 0.100), respectively. However, the mean length of hospital stay for COVID-19 patients with comorbid asthma was significantly longer than those without asthma (14.78 vs. 12.86 days, p = 0.050). Asthma was not an independent predictor for COVID-19 mortality (p = 0.930 and respiratory failure (0.108). However, age (p = 0.027), rural (p = 0.016), and Charlson comorbidity index score (CCI) score [1 (p = 0.012), 2 (p = 0.019), and ≥3 (p = 0.027)] were found to be significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality. Similarly, rural residence (p = 0.001), fever (p = 0.008), fatigue (p = 0.030), and CCI score [1 (p ≤ 0.001), 2 (p ≤ 0.001) and ≥3 (p = 0.001)] were found to be significantly associated with COVID-19 respiratory failure.

In this study, asthma had no significant impact on COVID-19 mortality and respiratory failure. However, age, CCI score (1, 2, and ≥3), and rural residence were found to be significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality.