Abstract
Background: Severe persistent asthma is associated with high morbidity, among patients with severe asthma, higher risks can be expected in patients with refractory asthma, but little is known about clinical factors which associated with refractory (therapy-resistant) asthma.
Aims and objectives: To compare prevalence and clinical characteristics of refractory asthma in severe asthma population.
Methods: Prospective, interventional, controlled study in parallel groups with 6 month treatment period was performed. Patients with severe uncontrolled disease and appropriate (GINA) treatment administered were included in the study. According to treatment response patients were aposterior divided according to ATS 200 criteria into groups of severe or refractory asthma.
Results and conclusion: Initially, in the group of refractory asthma worse clinical and functional parameters of asthma course were registered compared with severe asthma. According to our data the prevalence of refractory asthma in population with severe asthma is more than 50%.
| Parameter | Severe asthma (n=19) | Refractory asthma (n=21) |
| Age, years | 47,15±3,20 | 51,40±2,52 |
| Day symptoms per week | 12,45±1,51 | 21,35±2,13* |
| Night symptoms per week | 2,55±0,47 | 5,05±1,15 |
| Disease duration, years | 9,75±1,94 | 16,65±1,88* |
| Age of disease manifestation | 33,30±3,91 | 28,15±3,78 |
| Frequency of emergency calls per year | 0,15±0,15 | 2,60±1,23* |
| Number of visits to the doctor per year | 3,40±1,10 | 2,95±0,96 |
| FEV1, % | 68,10±1,89 | 61,97±1,97* |
| PEF, % | 73,84±3,56 | 68,51±2,82 |
| FVC | 87,61±2,82 | 85,10±2,95 |
| Reversibility, %FEV1 | 24,94±1,96 | 31,27±2,99 |
| ACT score | 15,30±0,58 | 12,40±0,89* |
*-p<0.05
Clinical characteristics of refractory asthma in comparison with severe asthma
- Copyright ©the authors 2016
