Eli Lilly and Company Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Background: On March 2020, the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and subsequently a national emergency was declared in the US concerning the outbreak.
Objectives: To characterize the epidemiology of COVID-19 in adults with asthma in the US.
Methods: Medical claims of adults (≥18 years old) enrolled in the IBM MarketScan database between April 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 were analyzed to estimate the incidence (per 100 person-years [PY]) and period prevalence (percentage) rates of COVID-19 (ICD-10 diagnosis code U07.1) at outpatient and inpatient settings among patients with asthma (ICD-10 diagnosis codes J45). Rates of hospitalized COVID-19 were reported by demographics and respiratory drug classes.
Results: A total of 349,687 adults with asthma (mean±SD age 45±15 years; 66% females) were included in the analysis. The prevalence rate of any COVID-19 and hospitalized COVID-19 among adults with asthma were 3.7% and 3.1%, respectively. The corresponding incidence rates were 267.2 and 69.1 per 100 PY. Age-specific prevalence and incidence (per 100 PY) rates of hospitalized COVID-19 were: age 18-44 years (1.8% and 59); age 45-54 years (4% and 83.3); age 55-64 years (4.3% and 82.1); age 65-74 years (5.4% and 42); and age ≥75 years (4% and 53.7). Males with asthma had higher rates of hospitalized COVID-19 than females (4.1% and 79.4 per 100 PY vs. 2.6% and 64.3 per 100 PY). Inpatient COVID-19 prevalence and incidence (per 100 PY) rates by drug classes were: systemic corticosteroids (3.1% and 141.2); inhaled steroids (2.6% and 59.5); inhaled bronchodilators (3.2% and 85.2); leukotriene blockers (2.3% and 54.1); xanthines (5.6% and 16.4); and monoclonal antibodies, e.g., omalizumab (0.8% and 28).
Conclusions: Among adults with asthma, the prevalence of hospitalized COVID-19 increases with age, and higher incidence was observed among those aged 45-64 years. Patients treated with corticosteroids have higher rates compared to those treated with other anti-inflammatory respiratory drugs.
