Infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is known to exacerbate asthma symptoms during an active infection. Yet it’s not clear whether COVID-19 increases the long-term risk of asthmatic episodes.

In a large retrospective study, Tim Duong, Ph.D., and his colleagues found that children and adults with asthma who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 experienced significantly higher rates of asthma attacks after infection than a control group of uninfected asthma patients. Children with asthma, especially those with unmet social needs, were especially vulnerable to asthma attacks after having COVID-19. The study, the first of its kind, highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and proactive management of patients with asthma and a history of COVID-19. The results were published online on May 10 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Duong is professor and vice chair for research of radiology at Einstein and Montefiore, professor of biochemistry, professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein, and a member of the National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center. This work is a collaboration with Michael Cabana, M.D., M.P.H., professor and the Michael I. Cohen, M.D., University Chair of pediatrics at Einstein and physician-in-chief at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein.