Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Asthma Incidence.

Multiple early life environmental exposures are thought to influence childhood asthma incidence. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in changes in air pollution levels and a marked disruption in the circulation of childhood respiratory viruses. Both air pollution and respiratory viruses have been implicated in the development of asthma and early childhood wheeze. Human behavior and daily routine practices, including family gatherings and daycare attendance, were impacted profoundly by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated mitigation measures. The changes to human behavior and social interactions that occurred during the pandemic have and will likely continue to impact chronic diseases, including the development of asthma. This rostrum explores how childhood asthma incidence might be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated public health mitigation measures. Recently completed and ongoing clinical trials being conducted in the infant and toddler population and assessing allergic outcomes may be well positioned to examine the impact of the pandemic on asthma incidence and time to asthma onset.