Asthma management, focused on the use of oral corticosteroids: the opinions of Italian asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients' perceptions of asthma symptoms, and attitudes regarding diagnosis and management, can affect their ability to reach good asthma control. The aim of the study was to explore patients' perceptions of asthma management, with focus on treatment with oral corticosteroids (OCS). METHODS: A DOXAPHARMA survey was conducted. A questionnaire with 46 multiple choice questions was completed by 50 patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, and 258 with mild-moderate controlled or partly controlled asthma. Participants were representative of Italian asthmatic patients-with medium age, long asthma duration, delayed diagnosis, poor asthma control, and frequent exacerbations. RESULTS: Many asthmatics reported inadequate pharmacologic treatment. The majority but not all patients regularly used ICS/LABA. Oral treatment was common, mainly with OCS, particularly in severe asthmatics. One-fourth of patients did not regularly use inhaled therapy, and adherence was poor, resulting in frequent OCS use to treat exacerbations, which were common in mild-moderate cases. Patients were fairly satisfied with asthma therapies, but many had concerns about long-term corticosteroid use. Patients complained about poor management of comorbidities associated with asthma and OCS use, but were generally satisfied with their patient/doctor relationships. Many patients failed to achieve optimal health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mainly those with severe asthma who used OCS treatment and emphasized how OCS therapy impacted QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The survey results confirmed many problems related to mild-moderate and severe asthma management in Italy and highlighted the overuse of OCS rather than more effective and safe treatments, which had strong negative effects on HRQoL.

Long-Term Efficacy of Mepolizumab at 3 Years in Patients with Severe Asthma: Comparison with Clinical Trials and Super Responders.

The efficacy mepolizumab in severe asthmatic patients is proven in the literature. Primarily to study the effect of mepolizumab on exacerbations, steroid dependence, and the continuation of efficacy in the long term. Secondarily to evaluate the effect of the drug on nasal polyps. Analyzing data from SANI (Severe Asthma Network Italy) clinics, we observed severe asthmatic patients treated with mepolizumab 100 mg/4 weeks, for a period of 3 years. 157 patients were observed. Exacerbations were reduced from the first year (-84.6%) and progressively to 90 and 95% in the second and third ones. Steroid-dependent patients decreased from 54% to 21% and subsequently to 11% in the second year and 6% in the third year. Patients with concomitant nasal polyps, assessed by SNOT-22, showed a 49% reduction in value from baseline to the third year. The study demonstrated the long-term efficacy of mepolizumab in a real-life setting.

Severe Asthma Network Italy Definition of Clinical Remission in Severe Asthma: A Delphi Consensus.

Severe asthma affects about 10% of the population with asthma and is characterized by low lung function and a high count of blood leukocytes, mainly eosinophils. Various definitions are used in clinical practice and in the literature to identify asthma remission: clinical remission, inflammatory remission, and complete remission. This work highlights a consensus for asthma remission using a Delphi method. In the context of the Severe Asthma Network Italy, which accounts for 57 severe asthma centers and more than 2,200 patients, a board of six experts drafted a list of candidate statements in a questionnaire, which has been revised to minimize redundancies and ensure clear and consistent wording for the first round (R1) of the analysis. Thirty-two statements were included in the R1 questionnaire and then submitted to a panel of 80 experts, which used a 5-point Likert scale to measure agreement regarding each statement. Then, an interim analysis of R1 data was performed, and items were discussed and considered to produce a consistent questionnaire for round 2 (R2) of the analysis. Then, the board set the R2 questionnaire, which included only important topics. Panelists were asked to vote on the statements in the R2 questionnaire afterward. During R2, the criteria of complete clinical remission (the absence of the need for oral corticosteroids, symptoms, exacerbations or attacks, and pulmonary function stability) and those of partial clinical remission (the absence of the need for oral corticosteroids, and two of three criteria: the absence of symptoms, exacerbations or attacks, and pulmonary stability) were confirmed. This Severe Asthma Network Italy Delphi analysis defined a valuable and independent tool that is easy to use, to test the efficacy of different treatments in patients with severe asthma enrolled into the SANI registry.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in COVID-19 patients at 3 months follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Long-term effects of Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) are of utmost relevance. We aimed to determine: 1) the functional capacity of COVID-19 survivors by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET); 2) the characteristics associated with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performance; 3) the safety and tolerability of CPET. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3, Genoa. Three months after hospital discharge a complete clinical evaluation, trans-thoracic echocardiography, CPET, pulmonary function tests, and dominant leg extension (DLE) maximal strength measurement were performed. RESULTS: From the 225 patients discharged alive from March to November 2020, we excluded 12 incomplete/missing cases and 13 unable to perform CPET, leading to a final cohort of 200. Median percent-predicted peak oxygen uptake (%pVO2) was 88% (78.3-103.1). Ninety-nine (49.5%) patients had %pVO2 below, whereas 101 (50.5%) above the 85% predicted value. Among the 99 patients with reduced %pVO2, 61 (61%) had a normal anaerobic threshold: of these, 9(14.8%) had respiratory, 21(34.4%) cardiac, and 31(50.8%) non-cardiopulmonary reasons for exercise limitation. Inerestingly, 80% of patients experienced at least one disabling symtpom, not related to %pVO2 or functional capacity. Multivariate linear regression showed percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in one-second(ß = 5.29,p = 0.023), percent-predicted diffusing capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide(ß = 6.31,p = 0.001), and DLE maximal strength(ß = 14.09,p = 0.008) to be independently associated with pVO2. No adverse event was reported during or after CPET, and no involved health professional developed COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: At three months after discharge, about 1/3rd of COVID-19 survivors show functional limitations, mainly explained by muscular impairment, calling for future research to identify patients at higher risk of long-term effects that may benefit from careful surveillance and targeted rehabilitation.

Real-World Experience with Benralizumab in Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: A Case Series.

PURPOSE: Severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) is characterized by high eosinophilia, severe symptoms, important comorbidities, frequent exacerbations, and poor asthma control. Benralizumab, targeting the interleukin-5 receptor alpha, proved effective in inducing rapid eosinophil depletion and amelioration of symptoms and lung function; it also allowed to reduce exacerbations and the use of oral corticosteroids (OCS). The present case series, spanning different subtypes of SEA, aimed at expanding the real-world experience with benralizumab in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data from SEA patients treated with benralizumab, at baseline and during treatment. We focused on the effects of benralizumab in the following conditions and endpoints: i) overlap between high-IgE and high-eosinophilic asthma; ii) presence of nasal polyposis as comorbidity; iii) corticosteroid-sparing effect; iv) patient perception. RESULTS: Ten SEA patients (females: N=7; age range: 19-70 years) referred to 8 Italian Centers and treated with benralizumab were included, presenting with several comorbidities such as non-allergic disease (8/10), atopy (3/10), high IgE (5/10) and nasal polyposis (6/10). Overall, benralizumab yielded optimal disease control in all patients, particularly in terms of rapid clinical and functional improvement, decreased systemic steroid need (OCS therapy was completely discontinued in 7 cases) and amelioration of patient quality of life, except for 1 case, in whom other conditions not related to benralizumab therapy interfered with the patient perception. CONCLUSION: Our findings further support the efficacy and safety of benralizumab observed in randomized clinical trials, providing even better results for lung function improvement.

Oral CorticoSteroid sparing with biologics in severe asthma: A remark of the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI).

According to the data derived from several national and international registries, including SANI (Severe Asthma Network Italy), and considering the strong impact that frequent or regular use of oral corticosteroid has on quality of life (QoL) of severe asthmatics, as well as on the costs for managing corticosteroid-related diseases, oral corticosteroid sparing up to withdrawal should be considered a primary outcome in the management of severe asthma. New biologics have clearly demonstrated that this effect is possible, with concomitant reduction in the rate of exacerbations and in symptom control. Then, there is no reason for using so frequently oral corticosteroid before having explored all alternatives currently available for a large part of severe asthmatics.

Efficacy of Benralizumab in severe asthma in real life and focus on nasal polyposis.

INTRODUCTION: Severe asthma occurs in 5-10% of asthmatic patients, with nasal polyposis as one of the most frequent comorbidity. Benralizumab was recently marketed, thus we could analyse its effects in real-life in severe asthma, and compare the effects of the drug in patients with and without polyposis. METHODS: Patients with severe asthma, receiving Benralizumab were enrolled in Italian asthma centres. The efficacy criteria for asthma (exacerbation rate, oral corticosteroid intake, hospitalizations, pulmonary function, exhaled nitric oxide) were evaluated at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment. Patients were then sub-analysed according to the presence/absence of nasal polyposis. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients with severe uncontrolled asthma (21 males, age range 32-78) and treated with benralizumab for at least 24 weeks has been evaluated, showing significant improvements in asthma-related outcomes, except for pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide. This included a reduction in the sino-nasal outcome-22 score versus baseline of 13.7 points (p = .0037) in the 34 patients with nasal polyposis. Anosmia disappeared in 31% patients (p = .0034). When comparing the groups with and without nasal polyposis, a similar reduction of exacerbations was seen, with a greater reduction of the steroid dependence in patients with polyposis (-72% vs -53%; p < .0001), whereas lung function was significantly more improved (12% vs 34%, p = .0064) without polyposis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Benralizumab, after 6 months of treatment, confirmed its efficacy in severe asthma, and also in nasal polyposis, which is the most frequent comorbidity. The efficacy of Benralizumab in reducing steroid dependence was even higher in patients with polyposis.

One year of mepolizumab. Efficacy and safety in real-life in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma is a disease with a heavy socio-economic burden and a relevant impact on the life of patients. Mepolizumab (MEP) was recently introduced in practice. The previous data were favourable as efficacy and safety are concerned. Nowadays, we can report the clinical data after more than one year of use of MEP in the real-life setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of MEP in a real life framework, mainly concerning asthma exacerbations, steroid dependence, effects on respiratory function and adverse events. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was performed on 138 patients, treated with MEP for at least 12 months, and referred to eleven severe asthma clinics in Italy. All patients met the criteria for severe uncontrolled asthma according to ATS/ERS guidelines and prescribing MEP conditions according to the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA). RESULTS: We could observe 138 patients (78 female, age 58 ±â€¯10 years). The average age of onset of asthma was 34 ±â€¯16 years. The blood eosinophil count decreased from 822 ±â€¯491/µL at baseline to 117 ±â€¯96/µL (p < .0001) after 12 months of therapy. Exacerbations decreased from 3.8/year to 0.7/year (-81%; p < .0001). Steroid-dependent patients before MEP (80%) with a daily dose of 10.1 ±â€¯9.4 mg prednisone decrease at 28% after 12 months with a mean of 2.0 ±â€¯4.2 mg/day (p < .0001). The occurrence of adverse events was overall low. CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In this real-life setting, MEP confirmed its efficacy and safety profile, already shown in clinical trials. This was apparent concerning exacerbation rate, systemic steroids intake and safety.

Time Required to Rectify Inhaler Errors Among Experienced Subjects With Faulty Technique.

BACKGROUND: Regardless of the device used, many patients have difficulty maintaining proper inhaler technique over time. Repeated education from caregivers is required to ensure persistence of correct inhaler technique, but no information is available to evaluate the time required to rectify inhaler errors in experienced users with a baseline faulty technique and whether this time of re-education to restore inhaler mastery can differ between devices. METHODS: This was a multi-center, single-visit, open-label, cross-sectional study in a large group of 981 adult subjects (mean ± SD age 64 ± 15 y) experienced with inhaler use, mainly suffering from COPD and asthma, who showed faulty inhaler technique at a follow-up visit in chest clinics. These subjects received face-to-face practical education from trained caregivers until proper inhaler use could be demonstrated, and the time of instruction was recorded. RESULTS: The mean times (95% CIs) in minutes of instruction required for rectifying misuse and demonstrating inhaler mastery were 5.0 (3.6-6.4) min for the Diskus (n = 199), 5.3 (3.7-6.8) min for the HandiHaler (n = 219), 8.1 (5.6-10.5) min for the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (n = 532), and 6.0 (5.0-7.0) min for the Turbuhaler (n = 169). The time to demonstrate good inhaler use for MDIs was higher (P < .05) than for all dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Between the DPIs, only the HandiHaler required more time for achieving mastery than the Diskus (P = .005). The variables associated with increasing time for correcting inhaler errors were an older age (0.05 min/y, 95% CI 0.03-0.07), a lower level of education (0.4 min/schooling level, 95% CI 0.7-0.1), and no reported previous instruction in inhaler use (1.96 min, 95% CI 1.35-2.58). CONCLUSIONS: In experienced subjects with baseline faulty inhaler use, the mean time of education required to achieve and demonstrate mastery with DPIs was lower than with MDIs.

Inhaler mishandling remains common in real life and is associated with reduced disease control.

Proper inhaler technique is crucial for effective management of asthma and COPD. This multicentre, cross-sectional, observational study investigates the prevalence of inhaler mishandling in a large population of experienced patients referring to chest clinics; to analyze the variables associated with misuse and the relationship between inhaler handling and health-care resources use and disease control. We enrolled 1664 adult subjects (mean age 62 years) affected mostly by COPD (52%) and asthma (42%). Respectively, 843 and 1113 patients were using MDIs and DPIs at home; of the latter, the users of Aerolizer®, Diskus®, HandiHaler® and Turbuhaler® were 82, 467, 505 and 361. We have a total of 2288 records of inhaler technique. Critical mistakes were widely distributed among users of all the inhalers, ranging from 12% for MDIs, 35% for Diskus® and HandiHaler® and 44% for Turbuhaler®. Independently of the inhaler, we found the strongest association between inhaler misuse and older age (p = 0.008), lower schooling (p = 0.001) and lack of instruction received for inhaler technique by health caregivers (p < 0.001). Inhaler misuse was associated with increased risk of hospitalization (p = 0.001), emergency room visits (p < 0.001), courses of oral steroids (p < 0.001) and antimicrobials (p < 0.001) and poor disease control evaluated as an ACT score for the asthmatics (p < 0.0001) and the whole population (p < 0.0001). We conclude that inhaler mishandling continues to be common in experienced outpatients referring to chest clinics and associated with increased unscheduled health-care resource use and poor clinical control. Instruction by health caregivers is the only modifiable factor useful for reducing inhaler mishandling.

Office spirometry can improve the diagnosis of obstructive airway disease in primary care setting.

INTRODUCTION: Spirometry may reveal pre-clinical abnormal airway function in asymptomatic subjects and allow a better definition of severity in clinically diagnosed asthma and COPD. The hypothesis of this study was that telespirometry might increase the diagnostic accuracy of asthma and COPD. METHODS: In the Italian "Alliance" study, 638 general practitioners (GPs) were trained to perform telespirometry and were asked to enroll the following categories of subjects: (a) current or ex-smokers without respiratory symptoms; (b) subjects with respiratory symptoms but without a pre-existing diagnosis of asthma or COPD; (c) subjects with a pre-existing clinical diagnosis of asthma; and (d) subjects with a pre-existing clinical diagnosis of COPD. Subjects completed a case report form (CRF) and performed telespirometry in the GP's office. Traces were sent by telephone to a Telespirometry Central Office, where they were interpreted by a pulmonary specialist, according to appropriately defined criteria. The results were returned in real time to the GP. RESULTS: Overall, 9312 subjects were recruited and 7262 (78%) performed an acceptable telespirometric examination and the CRF. In the asymptomatic group, 340/1437 (24%) of the telespirometries were abnormal (147 with moderate-to-severe airway obstruction, i.e. FEV(1) <80% of predicted). Among symptomatic subjects, 1433/3725 (38%) had abnormal telespirometries (682 with moderate-to-severe obstruction). Of the asthmatic subjects, 336/1285 (26%) had moderate-to-severe airway obstruction, while telespirometry was normal in 184/815 (23%) of the COPD group. CONCLUSION: Telespirometry, performed in a GP's office, can aid the diagnosis of obstructive airway diseases and could help GPs to better manage airway obstruction.