Asthma and COVID-19: In Defense of Evidence-Based SABA
Asthma, covid-19, inhalers, beta-agonists
Israel Amirav,1 Michael T Newhouse2 1Pediatric Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2C6, Canada; 2Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaCorrespondence: Israel AmiravDana-Dwek Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv, IsraelTel +1 972-55-6649359Email amirav@ualberta.caAbstract: There have recently been major objections to the use of short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) in episodic acute asthma culminating in a call for replacing SABA with combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists despite little evidence supporting this point of view. It is regrettable to note that this attack on SABA occurs in the midst of an unprecedented demand for, and shortage of, SABA inhalers during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the worldwide efforts to increase SABA supplies. In this commentary, we defend the well-established role of SABA and argue that the call for the phase out of SABA is inappropriate, since it is not solidly evidence based.Keywords: asthma, beta-agonists, COVID-19, inhalers