General Health Status of Asthmatic Children During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Hepkaya, Evrim; Kilinc, Ayse Ayzit; Cebi, Memnune Nur; Koyuncu, Zehra; Cokugras, Haluk

BACKGROUND Since COVID-19 pandemic became a serious health concern globally, patients with chronic diseases require close attention with regard to general risks and current individual treatments. We aimed to reveal the general health status of the pediatric asthmatic patients during the pandemic, considering the role of household factors in parental attitudes. METHODS We asked 60 asthmatic patients and their parents to respond to a questionnaire, aiming to reveal the current health status of the patients and the general approach of the family to the asthma management during the pandemic. RESULTS A total of 8 patients had had an asthma attack during the outbreak, but there was no confirmed correlation with COVID-19 infection. Most of the parents had never considered to stop their children's current medications. However, the majority of them reported concerns about failure of the ambulatory care services and almost all saw their children as being at high risk for COVID-19 infection. There was no significant relationship between these concerns and their psychological statuses (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The crucial point of asthma management is to keep down both patients' medical and psychological status that may lead to minimize the effects of the pandemic. Healthcare professionals should also pay attention to household members of the patients that their adaptation period to 'new normal'of pandemic may directly effect the patients state of health.