Risk Factors Associated with Post-COVID-19 in Patients with COPD and Asthma

COPD and asthma patients often suffer from prolonged symptoms following a bout of COVID-19. Are there risk factors that can help identify which patients are most likely to be affected?

Researchers from Sweden took a closer look at that question in a study conducted among patients with confirmed COVID-19 who also had either asthma or COPD. Data on the patients came from the Swedish PRAXIS study and were collected in 2022.

“Post-COVID-19 symptoms are common following COVID-19, but risk factors of persistent symptoms in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) remain unclear,” wrote the authors. “We aimed to assess the frequency and risk factors of post-COVID-19 symptoms in patients with asthma and COPD.”

The investigators found:

• Overall, 59% of the patients reported post-COVID-19 symptoms.
• Post-COVID-19 symptoms were reported by 55% of asthma patients and 70% of COPD patients. 
• Risk factors for post-COVID-19 symptoms included severe acute infection, higher age, female sex, and obesity.
• The post-COVID-19 symptoms group also included more patients with a history of hypertension, anxiety/depression, stroke, and chronic pain.
• Patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms reporting a more severe acute COVID-19 infection had a higher frequency of hospitalization.
• Patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms had a lower level of education and were more likely to smoke compared to patients without post-COVID-19 symptoms.
• Patients who had their first COVID-19 infection between March and February of 2020, when the Wuhan variant was dominant, had a higher risk of developing post-COVID-19 symptoms than those who were first infected in March of 2021 and beyond.
• Vaccination status did not differ between the groups.

“The results of this study may contribute to identifying patients who should be prioritized for preventive measures in future viral pandemics,” concluded the researchers.

The study was published by Nature’s NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine journal on September 29.

Highlighted in RC Buzz, October 12, 2026