Abstract
Introduction: While severe asthma affects a significant proportion of adult asthmatics (1-3%), it is believed to be rare in children and youths. Even large pediatric asthma centers treat only a handful of these patients.
Aims: To describe clinical characteristics and the burden of disease in children and youths with severe asthma across Europe.
Methods: In the European SysPharmPediA consortium, we studied children (6-11 years) and youths (12-18 years) with moderate and severe asthma in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia using a systems medicine approach. All were treated on Global Initiative of Asthma step 3 or higher. Severe asthma was defined as at least one of the following: Frequent exacerbations requiring oral steroids, exacerbations requiring hospitalization, emergency medical care and/or clinically uncontrolled asthma.
Results: 91 severe asthmatics (cases, mean age 11.6 years, 57% boys) and 54 moderate asthmatics (controls, 11.9 years, 63% boys) were included. Only 63% of children and 77% of youths in the case-group had ACT-scores indicating good current asthma control. Due to asthma exacerbations, 50% of cases had visited the emergency department, 30% had to be hospitalized and 13% had to be admitted to intensive care in the last year. Medication adherence scores were high in both groups (mean MAS score 4.6 of 5). However, only 15% of cases had received biologicals.
Conclusions: In this large assessment of kids with severe asthma across Europe, we identified a significant burden of disease in patients and their families. Even though self-reported medication adherence is high, symptoms are not well controlled, the life of these children is disrupted and the need for emergency services is great.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 420.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020