TY - JOUR T1 - Does systematic assessment improve healthcare outcomes and healthcare utilisation in patients with severe asthma? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - 1875 AU - Suzanne Regan AU - Farhana Shora AU - Markus Hofmann AU - Andrew Menzies-Gow Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1875.abstract N2 - Introduction: The management of severe asthma remains a significant problem in terms of patient symptoms, quality of life, effects of high dose oral corticosteroid therapy and emergency healthcare utilisation.The key to the effective management of severe asthma lies with making the correct clinical diagnosis. A systematic approach to aid effective diagnosis, identify co-morbidities and evaluate adherence was first introduced in 1993 and is now widely used. Little published data currently exists on the longer term benefits of utilising a systematic approach.Methods: A retrospective audit of 68 patients that underwent a systematic assessment protocol at the Royal Brompton Hospital between April 2009 & March 2010 was performed. The magnitude of improvement in asthma related quality of life, exacerbation frequency, emergency healthcare utilization and oral corticosteroid requirements was assessed.Results: The table below represents a selection of demographic data, confirmation of diagnosis, mortality rate, discharge and lost to follow up rates. Further data is currently being analysed and will be presented at the congress including the outcomes for quality of life, healthcare utilization and changes to treatment regimes.View this table:Baseline data from systematic assessment of asthmaConclusion: Systematic assessment of patients with difficult asthma identifies an alternative diagnosis in 13% of patients and one or more co-morbidity in 58% of patients referred to the difficult asthma service at the Royal Brompton Hospital. ER -