Nasrin Moazzen - Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hamid Ahanchian - Clinical Research Development Unit of Akbar Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Zahra Abbasi Shaye - Community Medicine, Treatment Affairs, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Ahmad Habibi Dashtebayaz - Clinical Research Development Unit of Akbar Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Alireza Peyvandi - Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ pandemic had a great effect on the lives of asthmatic children. In this study we assessed changes in medication adherence and asthma control rate among our registered children with pediatric asthma. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۱۱۳ patients registered in our asthma and allergy clinic in Mashhad, Iran. We called them via phone and completed a questionnaire on the level of asthma medication adherence and the asthma control test (ACT) before and in the ۶ months after COVID-۱۹ emergence. We investigated the changes in medication adherence and asthma control due to COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Results: A total of ۱۱۳ asthmatic children in the age range of ۱ to ۱۵ (mean, ۷.۰۲±۳.۲۴ years) were included in the study. There were zero confirmed positive cases among them since COVID-۱۹ introduction. The minority of patients (۸.۸%) had weak adherence, most of the children (۳۵.۴%) completed one course of prescribed medications, ۳۳% had longer adherence, and only ۲۵ patients (۲۲.۱%) had full adherence during the pandemic. Overall, our patients experienced better asthma control with a ۱.۵۱ rise in ACT score to arrive in ۲۳.۶۴ points out of ۲۵. They had no asthma exacerbation and emergency visit. Over half of the families compiled the national preventive measures; as ۸۵% of children had followed the stay-at-home order during the first peak of the pandemic. Conclusion: Our patients managed to come to a higher asthma control level despite their generally decreased adherence to medications during the pandemic. COVID-۱۹ not only could not worsen asthma status in our children but surprisingly improved it. This shows that the preventive measures should be strongly applied for the asthmatic population.

pediatric asthma,,, ,،COVID-۱۹,,, ,،asthma control,,, ,،medication adherence