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Review
. 2023 Jan 19;61(1):2200837.
doi: 10.1183/13993003.00837-2022. Print 2023 Jan.

Narrative review to capture patients' perceptions and opinions about non-response and response to biological therapy for severe asthma

Courtney Coleman  1 , Ekaterina Khaleva  2 , Anna Rattu  2 , Betty Frankemölle  3 , Hanna Nielsen  4 , Graham Roberts  2 , Clare Williams  3 ; 3TR Respiratory Work Package
Affiliations
Review

Narrative review to capture patients' perceptions and opinions about non-response and response to biological therapy for severe asthma

Courtney Coleman et al. Eur Respir J. .

Abstract

Background: There are now many biological therapies to treat severe asthma. To assess which work best for which patient, we need to develop definitions of response. This narrative review aims to capture severe asthma patients' perceptions about non-response and response to biological therapy.

Methods: Four bibliographic databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Grey literature was searched with the involvement of patient representatives. A thematic approach was used for synthesis. No qualitative studies specifically explore patients' perspectives on response to biological therapy for severe asthma. Three papers and one published asthma patient interview were included. Relevant grey literature was included from online discussion forums, blogs and social media websites.

Results: Adult patients framed positive response to biological therapy in terms of reduced burden of disease and treatment. Both were multifaceted. Some patients experienced reduced benefit from biological therapy over time. There was a group of patients who described a limited response or non-response to biological therapy. This was framed within the context of continuing hospitalisation and oral corticosteroid treatment. The speed of onset of benefit was felt to be important by some.

Conclusions: Definitions of non-response and response need to be patient-centred, yet there is a complete lack of qualitative research focused on this topic. By combining relevant published and grey literature we have provided a description of adult patients' perceptions of response to biological therapy in severe asthma. We now need to understand the views of children and adolescents with severe asthma and their carers, and diverse patient experiences in real-world settings.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: All authors report that funding was received to support this work by the European Lung Foundation (ELF) from European Commission's Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement number 831434 (3TR). C. Coleman and C. Williams are employees of the ELF. There are no further disclosures.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for systematic reviews.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Patient considerations about biological therapy in severe asthma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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