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Observational Study
. 2016 May 14;17(1):51.
doi: 10.1186/s12931-016-0374-z.

Determinants and impact of suboptimal asthma control in Europe: The INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT ON ASTHMA CONTROL (LIAISON) study

Fulvio Braido  1 , Guy Brusselle  2   3 , Daniele Guastalla  4 , Eleonora Ingrassia  5 , Gabriele Nicolini  4 , David Price  6 , Nicolas Roche  7 , Joan B Soriano  8 , Heinrich Worth  9 ; LIAISON Study Group
Affiliations
Observational Study

Determinants and impact of suboptimal asthma control in Europe: The INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT ON ASTHMA CONTROL (LIAISON) study

Fulvio Braido et al. Respir Res. .

Abstract

Background: According to the Global Initiative of Asthma, the aim of asthma treatment is to gain and maintain control. In the INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT ON ASTHMA CONTROL (LIAISON) study, we evaluated the level of asthma control and quality of life (QoL), as well as their determinants and impact in a population consulting specialist settings.

Methods: LIAISON is a prospective, multicentre, observational study with a cross-sectional and a 12-month longitudinal phase. Adults with an asthma diagnosis since at least 6 months, receiving the same asthma treatment in the 4 weeks before enrolment were included. Asthma control was assessed with the 6-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and QoL with the MiniAsthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ).

Results: Overall, 8111 asthmatic patients were enrolled in 12 European countries. Asthma control was suboptimal in 56.5 % of patients and it was associated with poorer asthma-related QoL, higher risk of exacerbations and greater consumption of healthcare resources. Variables associated with suboptimal control were age, gender, obesity, smoking and comorbidities. Major determinants of poor asthma control were seasonal worsening and persisting exposure to allergens/irritants/triggers, followed by treatment-related issues.

Conclusions: The cross-sectional phase results confirm that suboptimal control is frequent and has a high individual and economic impact.

Trial registration: The clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT01567280 .

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Asthma Control Index among countries of the LIAISON study. The index was computed as the ratio of patients with controlled asthma (6-item ACQ < 0.75) to patients with not well-controlled asthma (6-item ACQ ≤ 0.75). Asthma Control Index >1: greater proportion of patients with controlled asthma. Asthma Control Index <1: greater proportion of patients with not well-controlled asthma
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean overall score of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire by asthma control level. *Overall p-value < .001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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