1,721,200 research outputs found
Epidemiology of severe asthma and international register
No full textSevere asthma (SA) in an asthma that requires therapy with high dose inhaled corticosteroids with a second controller, or oral corticosteroids, to ensure that it does not become "uncontrolled," or that it does not respond to appropriate therapy. Severe asthma has a great impact on quality of life. There is a great heterogeneity of this disease, not only from a clinical point of view, but also from a functional and pathophysiological one. It is really hard to identify specific characteristics that identify this subgroup. Specific registers of SA, both national and international, are really important to describe the epidemiological characteristics of the disease and to analyze the clinical characteristics of the various subgroups of patients. This is an excellent starting point to be able to investigate the characteristics of the disease in detail
Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
No full textAsthma is estimated to affect approximately 4—11% of the general population and its prevalence is increasing continuously. A large number of epidemiological studies on the prevalence of asthma and the level of disease control have been carried out, in which the level of control defined by GINA objectives was shown to be significantly unsatisfactory. Frequently, patients accept suboptimal levels of asthma control, mainly because they do not know how asthma is caused and how it can be treated. Apart from having a deep negative impact on patient's daily life, undiagnosed and undercontrolled asthma can also mean an increased economic burden. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to preventive measures, patient education and self-management programmes. Scientific evidence exists that drugs currently available can achieve all or almost all the objectives indicated by international guidelines in the majority of patients, and to improve patients' HRQL by minimizing the impact of the disease and its treatment from the patient's viewpoint. In conclusion, there is a gap between the level of control that could be reached and what is obtained in real life. This must be reduced through a series of interventions in which both doctor and patient are involved
An update on allergen immunotherapy and asthma
No full textThe aim is to review recent literature up to July 2013 concerning the effect of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on asthma. AIT, effective in combined allergic rhinitis and asthma, was previously described as a convenient approach able to improve clinical outcomes and reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In addition, long-term and preventive effects on the onset of new sensitizations and progression from allergic rhinitis to asthma have been shown
Alexithymia and chronic diseases: the state of the art
No full textAlexithymia is a disorder of the regulatory mechanism of the emotion elaboration; it is characterized by difficulties in differentiating and describing feelings. Research indicates that alexithymia can be considered as a possible risk factor for a variety of medical conditions as it may increase susceptibility to disease development. The interest in alexithymia has increased considerably over the past decade. The present review was aimed at providing a state of the art of recent research on alexithymia in patients with chronic diseases
Exploring Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Treatment in Asthmatic Patients Receiving Dry Powder Inhalers: A Multinational Survey
No full textIntroduction: The quality of life (QoL) and device needs have not been characterized in asthmatic patients treated via dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of asthma on health-related QoL, device satisfaction and preference in adult asthmatic patients using DPI devices, and to identify any DPI-associated unmet needs.Methods: An online survey was conducted between November and December 2019 on eligible patients from the Cint consumer panel across Europe. Newly designed, as well as validated questionnaires were used to collect data on QoL and inhaler satisfaction.Results: A total of 1063 asthmatic patient took part in the survey; 66% of the patients reported medium or high impact of asthma on the overall QoL. The majority of patients (61%) reported high level of satisfaction with their current device. The patients with medium-to-high impact of asthma on QoL were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their current device (55%) than those who reported low-to-medium impact of asthma on QoL (67%; p-value <0.001). "Higher number of available doses', 'usability', 'clear dose counter" and 'feedback on correct inhalation' were the attributes mostly requested from a new device. The demand for user-friendly devices that provide feedback on correct drug administration was identified as an unmet need.Conclusions & Clinical Relevance: In asthmatic patients with medium to high impact of asthma on the overall QoL, the satisfaction with the device is highly affected
Do Asthmatic Patients and Their Physicians Agree on the Presence and Severity of Allergic Rhinitis?
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