[Assessment of asthma control and insights of asthmatic outpatients in Beijing urban districts]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the asthma control and insights of asthmatic outpatients in Beijing urban districts and to provide the basis for drawing up a work plan for Beijing Asthma Alliance.

Methods: We performed a investigation by a questionnaire in a face-to-face method in asthmatic outpatients. A total of 6 teaching hospitals distributed in the 6 different Urban districts participated in this study.

Results: A total of 527 asthmatic patients completed the questionnaire. The percentage of asthmatic patients who had various social insurance was 87.1% (459/527). According to the GINA standards the disease classification was 19.2% (101/527), 26.0% (137/527), 36.8% (194/527) and 18.0% (95/527) respectively in intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthma. The results showed that 19.5% (103/527) of respondents had been admitted to hospital and 29.2% (154/527) had visited a hospital emergency because of exacerbation during the past year. The percentage of adults with lost workdays was 33.8% (76/225) and 4 students of 22 school-aged asthmatic patients (4/22, 18.2%) had lost school days. The rates of complete control and well control were 25.2% (133/527) and 27.7% (146/527) respectively. Only 46.1% (243/527) of respondents had undergone lung function tests during the past year. Approximately one fourth of respondents 23.1% (122/527) had owned peak flowmeter. Only 6.1% (32/527) reported regular use of peak flowmeter. The percentage of regular inhaled corticosteroids was 59.6% (314/527). The level of knowledge for asthma management had improved significantly.

Conclusion: With the implementation of patient education program and asthma guideline, the asthma control level improved further and the knowledge for disease management also improved obviously.