TY - JOUR T1 - Inhaled corticosteroids and COVID-19 outcomes in asthma: the Israeli experience JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00014-2022 VL - 8 IS - 1 SP - 00014-2022 AU - Yochai Adir AU - Einat Fireman Klein AU - Walid Saliba Y1 - 2022/01/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/8/1/00014-2022.abstract N2 - Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), alone or in combination with bronchodilators, are widely used in asthma [1]. ICS have potential immunosuppressive effects that may promote viral replication, delayed viral clearance and increased risks of secondary infections [2, 3]. Furthermore, ICS use in asthma is associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections [2, 3]. Therefore, in the face of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, concerns have been raised whether the use of ICS in asthmatic patients increases the risk of SARS CoV-2 infection and affects COVID-19 severity and mortality.The use of ICS is safe and people living with #asthma should continue to take their prescribed medication as usual during the #COVID19 pandemic https://bit.ly/3rOYIL2 ER -