Since the beginning of the pandemic, much research has been done on how SARS-CoV-2 affects the respiratory system. Although there is no evidence that patients with pulmonary pathologies are more prone to contract Coronavirus, being an infection that especially affects this organ, people with previous respiratory problems have been considered one of the most vulnerable groups.
A recent study conducted bythe Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) concludes that people with previous respiratory pathologies, especially patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and/or lung cancer, are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID.
Apart from the presence of respiratory diseases, other risk factors such as age, immune system, obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disorders play an important role in determining a worse prognosis.
The main effects range from mild symptoms such as cough, fever or respiratory distress to respiratory failure, critical illness or multi-organ failure.
In this article, we explain how COVID-19 can affect your lung disease.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Both sleep apnea and Coronavirus are inflammatory infections. The airways become inflamed and blood oxygen depletion occurs and blood pressure rises, which facilitates the creation of blood clots.
The comorbidity between the two can worsen the symptoms of OSA, as well as potentially favoring the development of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress.
Apart from respiratory complications, OSA is also associated with other pathologies such as obesity, diabetes or multiple cardiovascular disorders. These disorders, which are increasingly frequent, produce alterations in oxygenation in the body, which in turn can worsen the COVID-19 prognosis.
The main setback of OSA is underdiagnosis. The study led by Dr. Chiner concluded that 75% of those hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 had untreated sleep apnea. If you think you may have it, it is important to contact your healthcare center for a medical evaluation.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
As a chronic lung disease, COPD patients have a potentially dangerous prognosis, with an increased risk of hospitalization and a high probability of needing mechanical ventilation and/or intensive care.
Also, as with sleep apnea patients, comorbidity between COPD and Coronavirus infection favors the development of pneumonia and/or respiratory distress.
As a COPD patient, you may experience shortness of breath on exertion. Therefore, it is important that you continue with your usual treatment if your referring physician advises you to do so. Respiratory physiotherapy can become your ally to reduce the sensation of dyspnea, avoid secretions and improve the patient’s quality of life.
In this article we tell you about the importance of respiratory physiotherapy in the COVID period and how it can help your pulmonary activity.
Finally, bronchodilators gave a lot to talk about because it was reported in the press that a bronchodilator drug that was administered to COPD patients favored protection against Coronavirus.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that narrows the airways and hinders proper airflow, as occurs in sleep apnea. Apart from the inflammation that makes breathing difficult, some common symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath or a feeling of tightness in the chest.
Adult patients suffering from asthma are more prone to suffer complications once they contract COVID-19, presenting a higher rate of hospital admission. In contrast, very few hospitalizations of asthmatic children have been seen.
Patients with other previous comorbidities, such as COPD or interstitial disease, are at higher risk of hospitalization for severe COVID-19 and suffer worsening symptoms of their underlying disorder.
If you live with asthma, we recommend that you continue with your usual regimen, as the use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids has not been shown to worsen symptoms or the risk of contracting Covid-19. Moreover, it has been shown that, in the case of asthma patients, inhaled corticosteroids could help in the management of the disorder and avoid hospital admission.
If you want to know more, don’t miss the article we dedicated to how COVID-19 affects people with asthma.
Read more: Coronavirus and asthma – COVID-19 dangerous for asthmatics
Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD)
As with COPD patients, people with DIDD are considered a risk group, as they are more likely to develop pneumonia, require mechanical ventilation or suffer post-covid sequelae as they are more likely to develop fibrosis than a patient without comorbidities.
If you have been advised to do so by your referring healthcare staff, continue with your oxygen therapy and/or mechanical ventilation, as the same evolution has been seen one year after contracting the virus as with other respiratory diseases.
Finally, if you are a patient with interstitial lung disease, it is very important to get vaccinated. Vaccination for COVID-19 is critical to reduce the chances of complications. Be vigilant, however, in the days after the dose is administered, as, in some cases, symptoms of your underlying condition, such as dry cough or feeling short of breath, may increase.
Cystic Fibrosis
Initially it was anticipated that the diagnosis of patients with this genetic disorder affecting the lungs and other organs could be very complicated. At present, the prognosis is proving to be better than expected.
Patients with a higher risk of complications are:
- Elderly people
- Patients with a weak immune system
- People with previous comorbidities (such as diabetes)
- Patients who have undergone lung transplantation
- People taking immunosuppressive drugs
If you have Cystic Fibrosis, continue with your usual treatment and respiratory physiotherapy procedure to promote the mobilization of secretions. Although there is no scientific evidence that they reduce the risk of contagion, a reduction in hospitalizations in pediatric patients has been observed.
Finally, as recommended for COPD patients, it is important to maintain physical activity as much as possible at least 3 times a week. It will help you to strengthen the respiratory musculature and activate lung function.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease, so its prognosis is very similar to the two previous ones. Remember to follow the protocol recommended by your healthcare provider to improve your respiratory condition and reduce secretions.
Diffuse interstitial lung diseases are closely related to pneumonia. Coronavirus increases the chances of developing pneumonia in patients with lung disease. For this reason, if the virus is contracted, the clinical diagnosis should be closely monitored to determine whether admission is necessary.
On the other hand, it has been observed that people admitted for severe COVID have developed bronchiectasis as a post-covid sequela.
Smoking
Smoking may determine a worse prognosis in case of COVID-19. In addition, regular tobacco users may be more likely to develop severe COVID than occasional users.
The target group is male smokers over 40 years of age, although former smokers and people exposed to tobacco have also been found to be more vulnerable.
On the other hand, if you have previously been diagnosed with a pulmonary pathology, such as COPD, and you also smoke, it is very important that you stop smoking as soon as possible, since there is a very close relationship between smoking, COPD and the possibility of developing severe COVID.
These recommendations also apply to people who have quit smoking but smoke e-cigarettes or vapes. Use of these is also associated with an increased risk of ICU admission.
Vaccination and treatment
Vaccination against Coronavirus is essential to reduce infection and the likelihood of complications from contracting the virus, especially if you are living with a respiratory illness.
If you want to know more about the importance of vaccination, not only against Covid-19, but also against other diseases such as influenza or pneumococcus, do not miss the article “Vaccinations in respiratory patients, basic for prevention”.
Finally, regardless of your pulmonary disorder, it is very important that you know how to differentiate between the symptoms of your underlying pathology and those caused by COVID-19. If you are unsure, consult your referring medical staff for an assessment. Do not make any decision regarding our treatment without prior medical consultation.