CHEST Guidelines-Characterization-of-Severe-Asthma-Worldwide_2019

Characterization-of-Severe-Asthma-Worldwide_2019_c

Pdf Summary

The study "Characterization of Severe Asthma Worldwide" provides a comprehensive analysis of severe asthma via data from the International Severe Asthma Registry (ISAR), incorporating information from the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The study aims to elucidate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients managed for severe asthma and identifies intercountry variations that could be attributed to cultural, epidemiological, environmental factors, and healthcare systems.<br /><br />Key findings highlight that the average age of onset for severe asthma is approximately 31 years, with the condition being more prevalent in females and predominantly affecting overweight or obese individuals. Most patients had poorly controlled asthma, and a significant portion was reliant on regular or intermittent oral corticosteroid use, with a yearly average exacerbation rate of 1.7 per patient.<br /><br />Substantial intercountry variability was noted: South Korea had an older patient cohort with less obesity prevalence, whereas countries like the UK had more patients at advanced treatment stages (GINA Step 5), likely due to strict referral criteria. The study's data collection included retrospective and aggregation methods in several countries, which may have influenced certain findings.<br /><br />Treatment variations were notable, with high usage of biologics in some countries like Italy and the UK, compared to the sparse use in regions like South Korea, where treatment options like biologics are not reimbursed. Additionally, there was significant divergence in biomarker profiles, with countries like the UK and Italy showing characteristics of Th2-high eosinophilic asthma, indicating possible differences in asthma phenotypes globally.<br /><br />The registry used in this study addresses previous limitations of regional registries by providing a unified data set conducive to answering critical clinical questions and guiding future research on severe asthma. Continued prospective data collection aims to refine these insights and ensure more accurate cross-country comparisons. The study also highlights the need for better standards in data fields to facilitate detailed international analyses and comparisons.

Keywords

Severe Asthma

International Severe Asthma Registry

Demographic Characteristics

Clinical Characteristics

Intercountry Variability

Corticosteroid Use

Biologics Treatment

Asthma Phenotypes

Prospective Data Collection

Healthcare Systems