Abstract
Introduction Risk factors for frequent exacerbations (FE) include poor symptom control and persistent Type 2 inflammation. The effect of maintenance oral corticosteroids (mOCS) on risk factors for FE in a real-world severe asthma population is unknown.
Methods We conducted univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses using data from the UK Severe Asthma Registry (UK-SAR) to identify risk factors for FE in patients with and without mOCS. FE was defined as ≥3 severe exacerbations in the past year.
Results 1592 patients fulfilled ERS/ATS criteria for severe asthma. 833 (52%) patients were on mOCS. 1137 (71%) were frequent exacerbators. In univariate analyses, patients not on mOCS were more likely to have FE if they had an ACQ-6 score >1.5 (OR 4.70, p<0.01), FeNO >50ppb (OR 1.63, p=0.02) or blood eosinophils >0.45x109/L (OR 1.66, p=0.04). In multivariate analyses, high ACQ-6 score remained a risk factor (OR 6.42, p<0.01), whereas high FeNO and blood eosinophils did not [Figure 1]. ACQ-6 score >1.5 (OR 2.20, p<0.01) and past smoking history (OR 1.54, p=0.02) were risk factors in patients on mOCS and did not change when adjusted for other factors.
Conclusion High ACQ-6 score was the strongest independent risk factor for FE in a real-world severe asthma population irrespective of mOCS status. Other FE risk factors differ in patients with and without mOCS.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 5039.
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