Prior ICS use may protect from lung parenchymal involvement in asthmatics and COPD patients affected by COVID-19

<bold>Rationale:</bold> Parenchymal involvement in COVID19 can vary from absent to severe, with oxygen saturation degradation. Risk for severe COVID19 in asthmatics has been shown to be lower than in the general population. <bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate risk factors for lung parenchymal involvement in patients with asthma and COPD affected by COVID19. <bold>Method:</bold> This is a retrospective study conducted on 1410 patients admitted with a positive COVID PCR test in University Hospital of Liege between March 2020 and February 2021. Patients underwent a Chest CT scanner at admission. We classified patients into 3 groups according to the underlying obstructive pulmonary disease. <bold>Results:</bold> Asthmatics and COPD patients accounted for 12% and 13% of patients, respectively. 18% of patients suffering from SARS-CoV2 infection received ICS at baseline. Parenchymal involvement was higher in men, overweight patients and in patients with high baseline white blood cell count, eosinophils and KL-6 levels. Chest CT scan impairment was lower in patients suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease and in patients treated with ICS at baseline. Unsurprisingly, patients with the worse lung involvement required more systemic corticoids, oxygen use and ICU admission. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Treatment with ICS is associated with lower risk for lung parenchymal involvement.