Journal
EXPERT REVIEW OF RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
Volume 15, Issue 8, Pages 1025-1033Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2021.1929176
Keywords
COVID-19; copd; pharmacological management; non-pharmacological interventions; open questions
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Continuing regular therapy is crucial for COPD patients. Corticosteroids can reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients. There are many unanswered questions regarding the relationship between COVID-19 and COPD that need to be studied further.
Introduction: The role of COPD in COVID-19 is not yet well understood. However, there is increasing evidence showing that COPD patients with COVID-19 have a higher risk of presenting a serious infection, a greater likelihood of requiring ICU support, and a higher mortality than other groups. Areas covered: In this article, we address some critical questions on COVID-19 as they pertain to COPD. In particular, we discuss whether the usual algorithms of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management in COPD still apply. Expert opinion: Patients with COPD must continue their regular therapy, regardless of whether they are affected by COVID-19. Corticosteroids reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients in need of supportive oxygen therapy or invasive mechanical ventilation. It is essential that a COPD patient who has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 is closely followed over time because any delay in diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy could negatively affect his/her prognosis. However, we still do not know if COVID-19 infection occurs and evolves differently in each of the recognized COPD phenotypes and, therefore, whether it needs a different management. There are other open questions concerning COVID-19 and COPD that need to be considered. Future studies are absolutely necessary to answer these questions.
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