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. 2020 Nov 4;29(158):200199. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0199-2020

COVID-19 and COPD: a narrative review of the basic science and clinical outcomes

Andrew Higham 1,✉, Alexander Mathioudakis 1, Jørgen Vestbo 1, Dave Singh 1,2
PMCID: PMC7651840  PMID: 33153991

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clinical outcomes, including mortality, are worse in males, older individuals and patients with comorbidities. COPD patients are included in shielding strategies due to their susceptibility to virus-induced exacerbations, compromised pulmonary function and high prevalence of associated comorbidities. Using evidence from basic science and cohort studies, this review addresses key questions concerning COVID-19 and COPD. First, are there mechanisms by which COPD patients are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection? Secondly, do inhaled corticosteroids offer protection against COVID-19? And, thirdly, what is the evidence regarding clinical outcomes from COVID-19 in COPD patients? This up-to-date review tackles some of the key issues which have significant impact on the long-term outlook for COPD patients in the context of COVID-19.

Short abstract

This up-to-date review tackles some of the key issues which have significant impact on the long-term outlook for COPD patients in the context of COVID-19 https://bit.ly/36PKzEO

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a beta coronavirus believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan, China [1]. SARS-CoV-2 may cause asymptomatic infection or a mild viral illness, while more severe COVID-19 cases are characterised by high fever, cough and dyspnoea [2–4]. Other commonly reported symptoms include myalgia, fatigue, gastro-intestinal disturbance, anosmia and sputum production [2–4]. A proportion of patients with COVID-19 develop pneumonia and acute severe respiratory failure, which is associated with a high mortality [4, 5]. A feature of severe COVID-19 is high levels of systemic inflammation, the so called “cytokine storm” [6].

Acute severe respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 is characterised by severe hypoxaemia with good lung compliance [7]. This suggests vascular injury and/or vasoconstriction are key underlying causes for respiratory failure, with microvascular injury causing the leaky pulmonary exudate typical of COVID-19 pneumonia. Additionally, severe COVID-19 patients show abnormal levels of systemic pro-coagulation markers including high D-dimer levels and low platelet counts, implicating pulmonary thrombosis as a contributor to respiratory failure [4, 8]. Autopsies have confirmed that typical pathological features of severe COVID-19 include endothelial injury and thrombotic microangiopathy [9, 10]. Multi-organ involvement in severe COVID-19 is common, including renal disease and neurological involvement, suggesting that endothelial disease and microvascular involvement are central pathophysiological processes in COVID-19 [3, 4, 8, 11].

Clinical outcomes, including mortality, in COVID-19 are worse in males, older individuals and patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity [3–5, 11, 12]. This information has been used to guide “shielding” strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying high-risk sub-groups who should remain at home, away from social contact that allows viral transmission. COPD patients have been included in this shielding strategy due to their susceptibility to virus-induced exacerbations, compromised pulmonary function and high prevalence of associated comorbidities [13–17]. This narrative review sets out to address key questions concerning COVID-19 and COPD. First, are there mechanisms causing COPD patients to be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection? Secondly, do inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) offer protection against COVID-19? And, finally, what is the evidence regarding clinical outcomes from COVID-19 in COPD patients?

Mechanisms of susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in COPD patients

Entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells is a sequential process involving cellular attachment and endocytosis [18]. This is mediated by the membrane bound viral spike protein which consists of the S1 receptor binding subunit, and the S2 membrane fusion subunit. In common with other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for cellular attachment (mediated by the S1 subunit) [19, 20]. It is thought that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutations enable greater affinity for binding to ACE2, thereby enhancing the ability of this virus to gain cellular entry [21].

ACE2 is a transmembrane peptidase which hydrolyses angiotensin II to produce angiotensin 1–7 [22]. Angiotensin II acts directly on vascular smooth muscle cells through the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor to cause cellular contraction, and thus increased vascular tone [23]. Intravenous infusion of angiotensin II increases pulmonary vascular pressure in human subjects [24]. Sustained high pulmonary vascular pressures cause hydrostatic oedema due to leakage from the single cell thick capillary bed [25]. Angiotensin II also increases microvascular permeability; a study using rat post capillary venules showed increased fluid movement across the endothelial layer in response to angiotensin II [26].

ACE2 is expressed throughout the body, including in the lungs, where expression has been confirmed in the trachea, large airway epithelium, small airway epithelium, type 2 pneumocytes and endothelium [27–30]. ACE2 has a homeostatic protective role in the lungs by limiting the effects of angiotensin II activity on vascular tone and permeability and increasing the production of angiotensin 1–7 which has vasodilator activity. Angiotensin II also causes pro-inflammatory cytokine production [31]. Reduced ACE2 activity resulted in increased pulmonary cytokine levels and neutrophil influx in endotoxin exposed mice, coupled with increased vascular permeability and lung oedema [32]. In contrast, angiotensin 1–7 reduces experimental lung injury in rats [33]. A loss of ACE2 function may therefore enhance host inflammatory responses and cause vasoconstriction and vascular injury.

In vitro studies have confirmed that a lack of ACE2 expression prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection [19]. Furthermore, the degree of SARS-CoV infection of epithelial cells is related to the level of ACE2 expression [34]. Emerging evidence from computational studies suggests genetic variants of ACE2 structure may alter SARS-CoV-2 interaction thereby increasing susceptibility to infection [35]. However, it is the degree to which altered ACE2 expression levels or genetic variation causes increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans or the development of severe COVID-19 that remains unclear. The role of ACE2 in the disease process is likely part of a complex and multi-factorial sequence of pathophysiological mechanisms [36].

During SARS-CoV-2 infection, cell surface ACE2 activity may be reduced due to internalisation or shedding, following binding of the virus, as demonstrated with SARS-CoV infection [37]. Interestingly, SARS-CoV, but not HCoV NL63, causes ACE2 shedding and increased lung injury in murine models, with concurrent increases in angiotensin II levels [38]. Importantly, AT1 receptor antagonism attenuated these affects [39]. Collectively, these observations implicate reduced ACE2 activity in COVID-19 lung injury (figure 1).

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1

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The implications of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 dysfunction during severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In the absence of infection, ACE2 is working at capacity and the levels of angiotensin II (ang II) are tightly regulated by conversion to angiotensin 1–7 (ang 1–7). Ang 1–7 activates the Mas receptor to regulate inflammation and vasomotor tone. During SARS-CoV-2 infection, ACE2 activity is reduced due to receptor occupancy, shedding and internalisation and the levels of ang II increase. Ang II activates the AT1 receptor to cause increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, increased vasoconstriction, increased vascular permeability, oedema and lung injury. Pulmonary inflammation increases and acute severe respiratory failure may ensue.

The second phase of SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry is fusion between the host and virus membranes, where the spike protein undergoes proteolytic cleavage at the S1/S2 interface which facilitates fusion between the virus and host membranes (mediated by the S2 subunit) and subsequent cell entry [18, 20]. The virus utilises host proteases including furin, transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsins during this process [18, 20].

Recent gene and protein expression studies have demonstrated increased ACE2 expression in the bronchial epithelium and whole lung tissue of COPD patients compared to controls, with an association between higher ACE2 expression levels and lower lung function (table 1). Leung et al. [28] used bronchial brushing samples obtained by bronchoscopy to demonstrate increased ACE2 gene expression in COPD patients compared to controls, which included a mixture of never-, former and current smokers. In these samples, current smokers had higher ACE2 gene expression levels. The authors also used immunohistochemistry to show increased ACE2 protein expression in the small airway epithelium of COPD compared to never-smokers but not current smokers. Cai et al. [40] observed increased ACE2 gene expression in bronchial brushing samples of COPD patients compared to former smokers but not current smokers. Smith et al. [41] demonstrated ACE2 expression was significantly higher in the whole lung tissue of COPD patients compared to smokers. Radzikowska et al. [42] observed increased ACE2 gene expression in bronchial biopsies of smokers compared to never-smokers but no difference in COPD versus controls, however the number of COPD samples were small (n=3). The overall pattern of these data is that COPD patients have increased ACE2 expression compared to never-smoker controls, and that smoking itself upregulates ACE2 expression. Increased ACE2 expression in COPD patients compared to smokers (without airflow obstruction) was less consistent; differences between studies may be related to site of sampling, analytical methodology, or number of samples.

TABLE 1.

Expression of genes/proteins related to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection in controls# and COPD patients

First author [ref.] Key findings Sample type Patient groups
ACE2 Furin TMPRSS2
Cai [40] ↑ ↑ No difference Bronchial epithelium Current smoker versus never-smoker
COPD versus ex-smoker
Leung [28] ↑ Not quantified Not quantified Bronchial epithelium Current smoker versus never-smoker
COPD versus controls
Negative correlation with FEV1 %
Smith [41] ↑ Not quantified No difference Whole lung tissue Current smoker versus never-smoker
COPD versus current smoker
Brake [27] ↑ Not quantified Not quantified Bronchial epithelium COPD versus controls
Zhang [29] ↑ No difference ↑ Bronchial epithelium Current smoker versus never-smoker
Radzikowska [42] ↑ Not quantified Not quantified Bronchial biopsy Current smoker versus never-smoker
Higham [43] ↑ No difference No difference Bronchial epithelium Negative correlation with FEV1 %
Overweight COPD versus not overweight COPD
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↑: increase in cell number; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s. #: controls were a mixture of never-, ex- and current smokers; : data not presented in manuscript.

Cigarette smoke exposure increases ACE2 gene expression in mice [41]. In primary bronchial epithelial cells, nicotine dependent activation of the α7 subtype of nicotine acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChR) was shown to increase ACE2 gene expression [44]. The levels of CHRNA7 (the gene which encodes α7-nAChR) in the bronchial epithelium are higher in current smokers and levels positively correlate with ACE2 expression (r=0.54 p=2.31×10−8) and negatively correlate with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted (r=-0.37 p=2.83×10−4) in COPD patients [45]. We have been able to replicate these findings concerning CHRNA7 using a cohort of 37 COPD patients (correlation with ACE2: r=0.4 p=0.02; correlation with FEV1%: r=−0.4 p=0.02 previously unpublished data).

Using single cell RNA sequencing, enabling identification of specific cell types in a mixed cell population, it was shown that several epithelial cell types including basal cells, intermediate cells, ciliated cells and secretory cells (goblet/club) express ACE2 [29, 41, 46, 47]. Differences exist in the conclusions of these studies, with some suggesting ACE2 expression was particularly high in secretory cells [41, 46]. The location of sampling, donor variability and methodology used to analyse expression may explain these differences. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that epithelial remodelling as a result of injury and repair may impact epithelial cell phenotype, including ACE2 expression. Cigarette smoking is a key driver of goblet cell hyperplasia, and goblet cell numbers are increased in COPD airways [48]. Furthermore, α7-nAChR regulates mucous production in bronchial epithelial cells exposed to nicotine [49]. Cigarette smoke, and in particular nicotine, dependent activation of α7-nAChR may therefore drive concurrent goblet cell hyperplasia and increased ACE2 expression in the airways of COPD patients.

We have shown increased gene expression of ACE2 in the bronchial epithelium of COPD patients who are overweight (mean body mass index (BMI) 29 kg·m−2) compared to those not overweight (mean BMI 23 kg·m−2) [43]. This suggests comorbidities, or even diet, may regulate expression of ACE2 in the lungs. This is supported by observations showing increased ACE2 expression in the adipose tissue of individuals with obesity [50].

Cai et al. [40] demonstrated increased gene expression of furin, but not TMPRSS2, in the bronchial epithelium of smokers compared to never-smokers, but found no difference in furin or TMPRSS2 expression in COPD patients compared to controls. In contrast, Zhang et al. [29] reported increased gene expression of TMPSSR2, but not furin, in the bronchial epithelium of smokers compared to never-smokers, while COPD patients were not studied. Whilst the results are not consistent, it appears cigarette smoking may alter protease expression, but modulation of expression in COPD is less clear.

These recent studies investigating susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in COPD patients have focused on ACE2 and protease expression. However, it should also be remembered that COPD patients have increased susceptibility generally to viral infections, possibly due to decreased type 1 interferon (IFN) production [51] or immunosenescence, characterised by increased numbers of exhausted T-cells and reduced numbers of memory T-cells [52–54]. Any increase in ACE2 levels in COPD patients, thereby increasing susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, therefore occurs on a background of suboptimal host defence.

Evidence of endothelial cell dysfunction and coagulopathy have been reported in COPD patients. The number of apoptotic endothelial cells is increased in COPD patients and increased permeability of the airway microvasculature in COPD patients is related to the degree of airflow limitation [55, 56]. Circulating levels of pro-coagulation factors are increased in COPD patients, which increase further during exacerbations [57, 58]. This likely contributes to the occurrence of pulmonary embolisms that are reported in COPD patients with exacerbations [59]. COPD patients may therefore be more susceptible to vascular damage and thrombosis during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The available evidence suggests COPD patients may be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to changes in ACE2 expression. Cigarette smoking appears to be an important risk factor, whilst preliminary evidence suggests that obesity may play a role. Increased susceptibility to vascular abnormalities may also be involved.

ICS use in COPD: implications for COVID-19

An exacerbation is defined as a worsening of COPD symptoms resulting in the need for additional pharmacological treatment [60]. COPD patients with more frequent exacerbations suffer with worse clinical outcomes, including lung function decline and mortality [61, 62]. Viral infections are a common cause of COPD exacerbations [13, 14, 16, 17], with secondary bacterial infections commonly occurring [14, 63].

Multiple randomised clinical trials have shown that ICS reduce exacerbation rates when used as part of a combination treatment with a long-acting β-agonist (LABA) or a LABA plus a long-acting muscarinic antagonist [64–66]. This ICS benefit appears to be greater in patients with higher blood eosinophil counts, with little or no benefit in patients with lower counts (<100 eosinophils·µL−1) [67–71]. ICS treatment can cause side-effects, including osteoporosis, diabetes and most notably pneumonia [72, 73]. Due to these potential risks, it is recommended that ICS are used in a personalised manner using exacerbation risk and blood eosinophil counts to identify individuals most likely to benefit [74]. The association between eosinophil counts and clinical benefit suggests that ICS target type 2 inflammation in COPD, as is the case in asthma.

Corticosteroids suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production from various cell types, through trans-repression of gene transcription [75, 76]. Bronchoscopy and sputum sampling studies have shown that ICS treatment can reduce inflammatory cell counts in the lungs [77, 78]. While these anti-inflammatory effects provide protection against COPD exacerbations, there are also molecular mechanisms whereby corticosteroids may increase susceptibility to infection. The suppression of innate immune cytokines may impair the ability of the host defence to counter bacterial infection. The reported association between ICS treatment and increased presence of colonising bacteria supports this possibility [79, 80]. The phagocytosis ability of alveolar macrophages is reduced in COPD patients [81], but we have recently demonstrated that corticosteroids do not further suppress phagocytosis by these cells [82]. Interestingly, a recent longitudinal cohort study showed that ICS use increased the risk of pneumonia in COPD patients with chronic bacterial infection or low blood eosinophil counts (<100 eosinophils·µL−1) [83]. The mechanism for the association between ICS and both increased bacterial presence and increased pneumonia incidence has yet to be conclusively elucidated.

Corticosteroids suppress the production of the anti-viral type I and III IFN from epithelial cells [85, 86]. This is associated with increased viral replication, and excess mucin production [84]. The use of ICS in COPD patients may therefore increase susceptibility to virus infection, and/or worsen clinical outcomes through these mechanisms [87]. Secondary bacterial infection in such cases provide one possible explanation for the increased bacterial presence and pneumonia risk observed with ICS use in COPD patients [83]. Overall, the benefits of ICS appear to outweigh these infection risks in patients with higher eosinophil counts, but in those with lower eosinophil counts the benefit–risk ratio often does not justify the use of these drugs [74].

There is in vitro evidence that bronchial epithelial cells treated with the corticosteroid budesonide, in combination with the bronchodilators glycopyrronium and formoterol, inhibits HCoV-229E replication [88]. The corticosteroid ciclesonide also appears to attenuate SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by targeting non-structural protein 15, an endoribonuclease which helps evade host detection of viral double-stranded RNA and type 1 IFN responses [89–91]. ICS may also prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry; ACE2 gene expression is lower in the sputum of COPD and asthma patients who use ICS compared to those who do not [92, 93]. Furthermore, studies in mice have shown that ICS reduce ACE2 expression by inhibiting type 1 IFN production [92]. While suppression of type 1 IFN secretion may reduce host defence, the associated reduction of ACE2 expression may protect against SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. These findings raise the possibility that ICS use in COPD patients may protect against COVID-19 (figure 2).

FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2

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Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use in COPD: implications for coronavirus disease 2019. ICS prevent exacerbations in eosinophilic COPD patients, probably in part by targeting type 2 inflammation in these individuals. ICS may have further benefit by reducing the ability of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to proliferate, and by limiting SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry by reducing angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 expression as a result of inhibiting type 1 interferon (IFN) production. However, immunosuppression may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections leading to secondary bacterial colonisation and increasing the risk for pneumonia in some individuals. #: ICS reduces ACE2 expression by reducing type 1 IFN production.

A systematic literature review did not find any studies that could determine whether ICS are associated with better or worse clinical outcomes in COPD patients with severe coronavirus infections including COVID-19, SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [94]. Recently, observational data taken from UK electronic health records reported increased COVID-19 associated mortality in COPD and asthma patients using ICS compared to those not using ICS [95]. However, a sensitivity analysis also showed increased mortality due to COVID-19 in COPD patients treated with ICS plus two long-acting bronchodilators (triple therapy) compared to ICS plus one long-acting bronchodilator, indicating a confounding effect of COPD due to greater disease severity in patients treated with triple therapy that was not due to ICS itself. A negative control analysis also highlighted more non-COVID-19 deaths in patients treated with ICS, further re-enforcing confounding by disease severity. This analysis highlights the practical issues regarding real-life data collection with regard to understanding whether ICS use has a protective or detrimental effect in COPD patients with regard to COVID-19. In the absence of randomised controlled trial data, COPD patients are being advised to continue with their usual inhaled treatment regime, including ICS if already being used [94]. COPD management guidelines provide recommendations regarding clinical situations where it is appropriate to withdraw ICS treatment [96]. Appropriate ICS withdrawal should continue to be considered at the current time, in the absence of conclusive data showing that ICS use has a protective effect against COVID-19 in COPD patients.

Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in COPD patients

A number of publications have evaluated the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. There is significant diversity in the clinical settings of these studies, and the type of data collected. Accordingly, the case fatality rates of patients with severe (hospitalised) COVID-19 disease vary from 1% to 62% [97]. Data on the epidemiology and outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with COPD are still being accumulated. Here, we review the distinct issues of whether COPD is associated with an increased risk of acquiring COVID-19, or an increased risk of worse outcomes with COVID-19.

The prevalence of COPD among patients with COVID-19 was summarised in a systematic review of 15 studies that had been published by 24th March 2020 involving 2473 patients with confirmed COVID-19, mainly from China; a prevalence of 2% (95% CI 1–3%) was reported (figure 3) [98]. A similar prevalence (3%), was found in a more recent report assessing 13 442 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 after an emergency department visit or admission in New York (NY, USA) [101] and a report of 1099 unselected patients from China (1%, 95% CI 0.6−1.9%) [100]. To explain the lower than anticipated observed prevalence of COPD among patients with COVID-19, it has been proposed that either the disease or its treatment may reduce the risk of infection [108]. None of these hypotheses have been proven yet. COPD under-diagnosis is a well-known issue that may contribute to these findings [108], or that full information regarding comorbidities including COPD was not recorded in the clinical notes. It is also likely that the low observed prevalence of COPD in some populations results predominantly from the early shielding of older and high-risk populations, including patients with COPD, in many countries [109]. This is supported by the higher prevalence of COPD (6.6%) and the higher median age (63 years compared to 52.7 years) that were found in a case series of 1000 consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 early in the course of the epidemic in New York [99]. Nevertheless, none of these observations provide definitive information demonstrating that patients with COPD have an increased risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection or developing COVID-19.

FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3

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Prevalence of COPD among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 with different severity. Data summary from larger patient cohorts (n >1000 for hospitalised patients or >500 for critically ill patients).

An age- and sex-adjusted meta-analysis of 11 case series in China and the USA suggested that current cigarette smoking might be protective against contracting COVID-19; the prevalence of current smokers among patients was significantly lower than anticipated (prevalence OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.13–0.31) [110]. However, current smokers have higher prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and were therefore more likely to be shielding during the COVID-19 epidemic, introducing a significant unaddressed confounding in the meta-analysis. In addition, most of the COVID-19 series are based on routinely collected data from case records, where current smoking information may be significantly underestimated. A possible reason for this is that information not critical in guiding clinical decisions may have been omitted due to the healthcare burden posed by the ongoing pandemic.

Patients with COPD, as well as current smokers, are consistently reported to have worse outcomes after COVID-19 infection. Several large patient cohorts reported an association between co-existing COPD and worse clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients in hospitals (figure 4) [99–101, 104–106 111]. The previously mentioned meta-analysis reported an 88% increased risk of intensive care admission or death among those with co-existing COPD (RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.4–2.4) [98]. In addition, the risk of developing severe complications was 45% higher among current smokers (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.03–2.04), arguing against a protective effect of current smoking against COVID-19. However, mortality estimates in this meta-analysis are limited by the sample size. More specifically, mortality within the subgroup of patients with co-existing COPD was only reported in two studies involving 10 patients with COPD. Among these patients six died. In the larger New York cohort (13 442 patients with COVID-19 attending the emergency department), COPD was associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.67–1.87) [100], and a trend for increased mortality (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.88–1.33). Similar findings were reported in an Italian cohort involving 1044 hospitalised patients; patients with COPD had significantly increased risk of severe respiratory failure (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.27) [102]. In a Spanish longitudinal cohort, COPD was also associated with a 70% increase in the risk of death (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.23–2.32) [111]. The ISARIC (International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium) cohort, based on data from over 20 000 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection, demonstrated that non-asthma chronic pulmonary diseases are associated with an increased risk of death (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09–1.27) [103].

FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4

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Impact of COPD on the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019. Data summary from larger patient cohorts (n >1000 for hospitalised patients or >500 for critically ill patients). ICU: intensive care unit.

Consistently, the prevalence of COPD rises further among patients suffering from more critical or lethal COVID-19 disease. A series of 257 critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit with COVID-19 in New York revealed a much higher prevalence of COPD (9%) and current or former smokers (33%) [106]. Moreover, COPD was predictive of significantly higher risk of death in univariate regression analyses (HR 3.15, 95% CI 1.84–5.39), and this association remained robust in multivariate regression (HR 2.94, 95% CI 1.48–5.84). Interestingly, COPD has been reported as a comorbidity in as many as 16.4% of patients who did not survive the COVID-19 infection, in an Italian survey involving 3032 patients [107]. This corresponded to a prevalence of 17.2% among patients aged ≥65 years, and 11.1% among younger patients.

Clinical and research implications

Risk factors for worse outcomes from COVID-19 include increasing age and cardiovascular comorbidities [2–4]. COPD is a disease that occurs in later life, and is associated with multiple comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases [15]. In addition to the risk conferred by age and comorbidities, the evidence indicates that COPD itself is associated with worse outcomes [99–101, 104–106, 111]. The reasons for this may be increased susceptibility to viral infection (through decreased anti-viral defence or increased ACE2 expression) in COPD or pre-existing compromised pulmonary function. The available data does not deal with the heterogeneity of COPD, including disease severity, exacerbation frequency and comorbidities. Future analysis should consider these features as additional susceptibility factors.

Thrombosis and coagulopathies are common features of severe COVID-19, and COPD patients also demonstrate increased susceptibility to these vascular events [55–59]. It is important to understand if pre-existing endothelial dysfunction in COPD patients predisposes to vascular complications during COVID-19. Future studies should examine how COPD pulmonary endothelial cells behave during infection and inflammation and if this may lead to vascular complications in the micro-circulation.

Evidence is still lacking on the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 among patients with pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as COPD. Emerging evidence from COVID-19 convalescent patients without pulmonary disease shows reduced lung function and computed tomography abnormalities up to 3 months after discharge [112, 113]. COPD patients demonstrate abnormal remodelling processes following lung injury, so one can expect significantly abnormal tissue remodelling following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Future studies should attempt to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on disease pathophysiology including small airway disease and emphysema.

The relationship between ICS use and SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. Whilst there may be some benefit on reducing the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to proliferate [89, 90], it is known that ICS can dampen important anti-viral mechanisms [84–86]. Despite dampening anti-viral mechanisms, ICS use in COPD patients prevents exacerbations in patients with higher blood eosinophils [67–70]. Conversely, ICS use in COPD patients with low blood eosinophils counts or chronic bacterial infection can increase the risk of pneumonia [83]. Similarly, ICS use in COPD patients with regard to SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a double edged sword, conferring benefit to some but harm to others. This topic urgently needs further research to support clinical decision making.

The long-term impact of isolation on the natural history of COPD is unclear; this may lead to reduced viral infections in the short term, but may cause undesirable effects on the general physical and psychosocial health of these patients. The resulting decrease in physical activities and exercise may deprive patients of the beneficial effects that include improved quality of life, decreased symptoms burden and risk of exacerbations and mortality [60].

We recognise there are limitations to this review. First, this is a narrative review. As more data becomes available in this rapidly evolving field then a systematic review may be valuable. Secondly, many cohort studies have not analysed COPD patients as subgroups. It is well recognised that COPD is a highly heterogeneous disease with several clinical phenotypes and a spectrum of severities. Future analysis of cohort studies should attempt to subgroup patients, including by ethnicity, to identify those most at risk.

Conclusion

This review focused on three key issues concerning COVID-19 and COPD (figure 5). First, it is well known that COPD patients are prone to viral exacerbations [13, 14, 16], and current evidence shows that COPD patients have increased pulmonary expression of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, providing a mechanism by which COPD patients may be more susceptible to COVID-19 [41]. COPD patients also demonstrate features of endothelial cell dysfunction and increased coagulopathy, which may predispose to increased risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19 [55–58]. Secondly, there is no clinical evidence that ICS are protective against COVID-19 or are associated with worse clinical outcomes [94]. Finally, whilst the available evidence from cohort studies does not demonstrate that COPD patients are more or less susceptible to acquiring infection with SARS-CoV-2, clinical outcomes including requirement for mechanical ventilation and mortality appear to be worse in COPD patients [102–107, 111].

FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5

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The key issues addressed by this review. SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2; COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; ACE2: angiotensin converting enzyme 2. +: benefits of ICS; −: dangers of ICS.

Footnotes

Provenance: Submitted article, peer reviewed

Conflict of interest: A. Higham reports personal fees from Chiesi, outside the submitted work.

Conflict of interest: A. Mathioudakis reports grants from Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work.

Conflict of interest: J. Vestbo reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chiesi, GSK and Novartis, and grants from Boehringer-Ingelheim, outside the submitted work.

Conflict of interest: D. Singh reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Cipla, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Glenmark, Gossamerbio, Menarini, Mundipharma, Novartis, Peptinnovate, Pfizer, Pulmatrix, Theravance and Verona, outside the submitted work.

Support statement: This research was supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and the North West Lung Centre Charity, Manchester. This report is independent research and the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Dept of Health. Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.

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