Prevalence, characteristics and management of frequently exacerbating asthma patients: an observational study in Sweden (PACEHR).
Eur Respir J
; 52(2)2018 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29946008
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, management and characteristics of asthma patients with frequent exacerbations.Data from asthma patients (aged ≥18â
years) identified in primary care medical records were linked to Swedish national health registries. Exacerbations were defined as hospitalisations, emergency visits and/or collection of oral steroids. Frequent exacerbations were defined as two or more exacerbations per year during the 3-year observation period.Of 18â724 asthma patients, 81.49% had no exacerbations and 6.3% had frequent exacerbations in the year prior to the index date. Frequent exacerbations were observed yearly for 1.8% of the patients. Frequent exacerbators were older, more often females, and had increased eosinophil and neutrophil counts, lower lung function, and more comorbidities than patients without exacerbations. There was a slight increase in asthma medication claims and a slight decrease in physician visits compared with baseline, both in the group with and the group without frequent exacerbations.Patients with frequent exacerbations were characterised by greater age, female predominance, high eosinophil and neutrophil counts, and high prevalence of comorbidities. This study indicates that the Swedish healthcare system lacks efficiency to adjust treatment and management for this patient group. With new treatment options targeting severe asthma available, identification of these patients should be in focus to ensure reduction of exacerbations.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Asma
/
Progressão da Doença
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Respir J
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suécia