Serious asthma attacks doubled after Covid restrictions lifted

Risk of serious respiratory infections increased after Covid restrictions eased

The removal of social distancing and the wearing of face masks not only increased the risk of catching Covid but also other serious respiratory infection (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The risk of a severe attack for adults with asthma almost doubled after Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed in the UK.

New research from Queen Mary, University of London, found an increased risk of attacks after restrictions eased.

The removal of social distancing and the wearing of face masks not only increased the risk of catching Covid but also other serious respiratory infections.

Covid, however, isn’t more likely to trigger asthma attacks than other respiratory illnesses.

When asthma sufferers were asked in April 2021, 1.7 per cent reported havings serious attacks in the last month. When asked again in January 2022, this figure had more than doubled to 3.7 per cent.

Lead author of the research and clinical professor of respiratory infection and immunity at Queen Mary University of London, Professor Adrian Martineau, said: “This research shows that relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions coincided with an increased risk of severe asthma attacks.

“Our study was observational, so it can’t prove cause-and-effect.

“But our findings do raise the possibility that certain elements of the public health measures introduced during the pandemic – such as wearing facemasks - could help in reducing respiratory illnesses moving forward.”

Dr Florence Tydeman, first author on the paper, said: “It is also reassuring to see that Covid-19 was not significantly more likely to trigger asthma attacks than other respiratory infections in our study participants.”

The progressive worsening of asthma symptoms, which amount to astham attacks, are the major cause of sickness and death in this condition.

More than five million people in the UK have asthma, and over 300 million people suffer from it globally.

The research gathered data from 2,312 adults with asthma in the UK, who took part in Queen Mary’s COVIDENCE UK study between November 2020 and April 2022.