88% of moderate to severe asthmatics are not able to fully control their symptoms

Patients aged 18 to 64 years with moderate to severe asthma were asked to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were excluded. The Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ) was used as the measure of control. The ATAQ scores range from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no asthma control problems.

1,200 patients (73% women) completed the survey. Only 12% of respondents scored 0 on the ATAQ, 77% scored 1 or 2, and 11% scored 3 or 4.



Severe asthma - differential diagnosis and management (click to enlarge the image).

Severe asthma includes 3 groups:

(1) untreated severe asthma
(2) difficult-to-treat severe asthma
(3) treatment-resistant severe asthma

Decreasing levels of asthma control were associated with:

- sleep problems

- depression

- functional impairment

- effect on work and regular activities

Approximately 88% of patients with moderate to severe asthma were not fully controlled despite anti-inflammatory drug treatment. Lack of asthma control is associated with substantial patient burden.

References:

Impact of asthma control on sleep, attendance at work, normal activities, and disease burden. Wertz DA, Pollack M, Rodgers K, Bohn RL, Sacco P, Sullivan SD. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010 Aug;105(2):118-23.

3 groups of severe asthma