PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Philip, Keir Elmslie James AU - Buttery, Sara AU - Williams, Parris AU - Vijayakumar, Bavithra AU - Tonkin, James AU - Cumella, Andrew AU - Renwick, Lottie AU - Ogden, Lizzie AU - Quint, Jennifer K AU - Johnston, Sebastian L AU - Polkey, Michael I AU - Hopkinson, Nicholas S TI - Impact of COVID-19 on people with asthma: a mixed methods analysis from a UK wide survey AID - 10.1136/bmjresp-2021-001056 DP - 2022 Jan 01 TA - BMJ Open Respiratory Research PG - e001056 VI - 9 IP - 1 4099 - http://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001056.short 4100 - http://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001056.full SO - BMJ Open Resp Res2022 Jan 01; 9 AB - Introduction The impact of acute COVID-19 on people with asthma appears complex, being moderated by multiple interacting disease-specific, demographic and environmental factors. Research regarding longer-term effects in this group is limited. We aimed to assess impacts of COVID-19 and predictors of persistent symptoms, in people with asthma.Methods Using data from an online UK-wide survey of 4500 people with asthma (median age 50–59 years, 81% female), conducted in October 2020, we undertook a mixed methods analysis of the characteristics and experience of those reporting having had COVID-19.Results The COVID-19 group (n=471, 10.5%) reported increased inhaler use and worse asthma management, compared with those not reporting COVID-19, but did not differ by gender, ethnicity or household income. Among the COVID-19 group, 56.1% reported having long COVID, 20.2% were ‘unsure’. Those with long COVID were more likely than those without long COVID to describe: their breathing as worse or much worse after their initial illness (73.7% vs 34.8%, p<0.001), increased inhaler use (67.8% vs 34.8%, p<0.001) and worse or much worse asthma management (59.6% vs 25.6%, p<0.001). Having long COVID was not associated with age, gender, ethnicity, UK nation or household income.Analysis of free text survey responses identified three key themes: (1) variable COVID-19 severity, duration and recovery; (2) symptom overlap and interaction between COVID-19 and asthma; (3) barriers to accessing healthcare.Conclusions Persisting symptoms are common in people with asthma following COVID-19. Measures are needed to ensure appropriate healthcare access including clinical evaluation and investigation, to distinguish between COVID-19 symptoms and asthma.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. All relevant data are included in this publication. No other data will be made available due to patient confidentiality.