Clinical management and outcome of refractory asthma in the UK from the British Thoracic Society Difficult Asthma Registry

Thorax. 2012 Aug;67(8):754-6. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-201869. Epub 2012 May 11.

Abstract

Refractory asthma represents a significant unmet clinical need. Data from a national online registry audited clinical outcome in 349 adults with refractory asthma from four UK specialist centres in the British Thoracic Society Difficult Asthma Network. At follow-up, lung function improved, with a reduction in important healthcare outcomes, specifically hospital admission, unscheduled healthcare visits and rescue courses of oral steroids. The most frequent therapeutic intervention was maintenance oral corticosteroids and most steroid sparing agents (apart from omalizumab) demonstrated minimal steroid sparing benefit. A significant unmet clinical need remains in this group, specifically a requirement for therapies which reduce systemic steroid exposure.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Delivery of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume / drug effects
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Audit
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vital Capacity / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Glucocorticoids