Changes in Treatment Adherence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients with Severe Asthma Receiving Biologic Agent Treatment

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment adherence in patients with severe asthma who were receiving omalizumab and mepolizumab treatment in our clinic. Material and Method: A total of 53 patients with severe asthma, 45 of whom were using omalizumab and 8 of whom were using mepolizumab, were included in the study. The medical records of the patients were recorded anonymously and retrospectively. Results: It was seen that the rate of patients using omalizumab in the study population decreased during the pandemic period compared to the 1-year period before the pandemic. It was observed that approximately 51% of the patients using omalizumab missed routine treatment doses. The major factor in skipping treatment doses was the fear of contracting COVID-19 upon admission to the hospital. In the mepolizumab group, the rate of using biologic agents during the pandemic period increased compared to 1 year before the pandemic. Dose skipping was observed among 37.5% of the patients in this group and it was found that the major risk factor for skipping a dose was the fear of contracting COVID-19 upon admission to the hospital. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that there was a decrease in the duration and rate of use of biologic agent therapies administered in a health institution under the supervision of a healthcare professional among patients with severe asthma during the pandemic.

Keywords

• coronavirus anxiety scale
• mepolizumab
• omalizumab
• sars-cov-2
• koronavirus anksiyete ölçeği
• mepolizumab
• omalizumab
• sars-cov-2