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Observational Study
. 2019 May 24;19(1):99.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-019-0862-2.

Protocol for the Wessex AsThma CoHort of difficult asthma (WATCH): a pragmatic real-life longitudinal study of difficult asthma in the clinic

Adnan Azim  1   2   3 , Heena Mistry  1   3   4 , Anna Freeman  1   2   3 , Clair Barber  1   2 , Colin Newell  2 , Kerry Gove  1   2 , Yvette Thirlwall  2 , Matt Harvey  2 , Kimberley Bentley  2 , Deborah Knight  2 , Karen Long  2 , Frances Mitchell  4 , Yueqing Cheng  2 , Judit Varkonyi-Sepp  2 , Wolfgang Grabau  5 , Paddy Dennison  2   3 , Hans Michael Haitchi  1   2   6   3 , S Hasan Arshad  1   2   6   3   4 , Ratko Djukanovic  1   2   6 , Tom Wilkinson  1   2   6   3 , Peter Howarth  1   2   6   3 , Ramesh J Kurukulaaratchy  7   8   9   10   11
Affiliations
Observational Study

Protocol for the Wessex AsThma CoHort of difficult asthma (WATCH): a pragmatic real-life longitudinal study of difficult asthma in the clinic

Adnan Azim et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Asthma is now widely recognised to be a heterogeneous disease. The last two decades have seen the identification of a number of biological targets and development of various novel therapies. Despite this, asthma still represents a significant health and economic burden worldwide. Why some individuals should continue to suffer remains unclear.

Methods: The Wessex Asthma Cohort of Difficult Asthma (WATCH) is an ongoing 'real-life', prospective study of patients in the University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust (UHSFT) Difficult Asthma service. Research data capture is aligned with the extensive clinical characterisation required of a commissioned National Health Service (NHS) Specialist Centre for Severe Asthma. Data acquisition includes detailed clinical, health and disease-related questionnaires, anthropometry, allergy and lung function testing, radiological imaging (in a small subset) and collection of biological samples (blood, urine and sputum). Prospective data are captured in parallel to clinical follow up appointments, with data entered into a bespoke database.

Discussion: The pragmatic ongoing nature of the WATCH study allows comprehensive assessment of the real world clinical spectrum seen in a Specialist Asthma Centre and allows a longitudinal perspective of deeply phenotyped patients. It is anticipated that the WATCH cohort would act as a vehicle for potential collaborative asthma studies and will build upon our understanding of mechanisms underlying difficult asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; Biobank; Cohort; Difficult Asthma; Longitudinal; Prospective; Severe Asthma.

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Conflict of interest statement

RJK received a non-promotional grant (£35,000) from Novartis to assist funding initial database support for the WATCH study. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
UHSFT Difficult Asthma Service Pathway. A schematic outline of the standard clinical assessment and management pathway in the UHSFT (University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust) Difficult Asthma Clinic
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Patient journey with parallel clinical and research activity. A schematic outline of the aligned clinical and research pathways/timelines followed by a patient under the UHSFT Difficult Asthma Clinic who is participating in the WATCH study. The illustration demonstrates examples of how clinical tests (blood tests, lung function and radiology) and medication changes over time may be captured for the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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