PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Christer Janson
AU  - Karin Lisspers
AU  - Björn Ställberg
AU  - Gunnar Johansson
AU  - Marcus Thuresson
AU  - Gunilla Telg
AU  - Kjell Larsson
TI  - Prevalence, characteristics and management of frequently exacerbating asthma patients: an observational study in Sweden (PACEHR)
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.01927-2017
DP  - 2018 Aug 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1701927
VI  - 52
IP  - 2
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/2/1701927.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/2/1701927.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2018 Aug 01; 52
AB  - The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, management and characteristics of asthma patients with frequent exacerbations.Data from asthma patients (aged ≥18 years) identified in primary care medical records were linked to Swedish national health registries. Exacerbations were defined as hospitalisations, emergency visits and/or collection of oral steroids. Frequent exacerbations were defined as two or more exacerbations per year during the 3-year observation period.Of 18 724 asthma patients, 81.49% had no exacerbations and 6.3% had frequent exacerbations in the year prior to the index date. Frequent exacerbations were observed yearly for 1.8% of the patients. Frequent exacerbators were older, more often females, and had increased eosinophil and neutrophil counts, lower lung function, and more comorbidities than patients without exacerbations. There was a slight increase in asthma medication claims and a slight decrease in physician visits compared with baseline, both in the group with and the group without frequent exacerbations.Patients with frequent exacerbations were characterised by greater age, female predominance, high eosinophil and neutrophil counts, and high prevalence of comorbidities. This study indicates that the Swedish healthcare system lacks efficiency to adjust treatment and management for this patient group. With new treatment options targeting severe asthma available, identification of these patients should be in focus to ensure reduction of exacerbations.Room for improvement exists in identification and management of frequently exacerbating asthma patients in Sweden http://ow.ly/qqN030ktv8T