Tunn Ren Tay1, Naghmeh Radhakrishna2, Fiona Hore-Lacy2, Catherine Smith3, Ryan Hoy2, Eli Dabscheck2, Mark Hew2,3. 1. Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. t.tay@alfred.org.au. 2. Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how comorbidities affect difficult asthma patients across different domains of asthma outcomes. We hypothesized that comorbidities in difficult asthma significantly influence asthma outcomes. METHODS: We analysed 90 consecutive patients who underwent systematic assessment at our hospital's difficult asthma clinic. Eight comorbidities were assessed in all patients. They were allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, anxiety or depression, dysfunctional breathing (DB) and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Asthma outcomes examined were exacerbation frequency (≥3/year vs <3/year), asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and quality of life using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Multivariate logistic regression was performed for dichotomous outcomes and linear regression for continuous outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for lung function and absolute blood eosinophils. RESULTS: Increasing BMI was an independent risk factor for exacerbations (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1-1.1, P = 0.042), lower ACT score (β coefficient: -0.25, 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.12, P < 0.001) and poorer AQLQ (β coefficient: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.02, P = 0.006). DB predicted lower ACT (β coefficient: -2.85, 95% CI: -5 to -0.7, P = 0.01) and AQLQ scores (β coefficient: -0.73, 95% CI: -1.34 to -0.12, P = 0.02). Patients with CRS had more exacerbations (OR: 4, 95% CI: 1.5-10.9, P = 0.006). Patients with VCD had lower AQLQ scores (β coefficient: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.38 to -0.18, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Comorbidities independently impact a broad spectrum of outcomes in difficult asthma. Systematic evaluation of these conditions is essential in difficult asthma.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Little is known about how comorbidities affect difficult asthmapatients across different domains of asthma outcomes. We hypothesized that comorbidities in difficult asthma significantly influence asthma outcomes. METHODS: We analysed 90 consecutive patients who underwent systematic assessment at our hospital's difficult asthma clinic. Eight comorbidities were assessed in all patients. They were allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea, anxiety or depression, dysfunctional breathing (DB) and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Asthma outcomes examined were exacerbation frequency (≥3/year vs <3/year), asthma control using the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and quality of life using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Multivariate logistic regression was performed for dichotomous outcomes and linear regression for continuous outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for lung function and absolute blood eosinophils. RESULTS: Increasing BMI was an independent risk factor for exacerbations (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1-1.1, P = 0.042), lower ACT score (β coefficient: -0.25, 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.12, P < 0.001) and poorer AQLQ (β coefficient: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.02, P = 0.006). DB predicted lower ACT (β coefficient: -2.85, 95% CI: -5 to -0.7, P = 0.01) and AQLQ scores (β coefficient: -0.73, 95% CI: -1.34 to -0.12, P = 0.02). Patients with CRS had more exacerbations (OR: 4, 95% CI: 1.5-10.9, P = 0.006). Patients with VCD had lower AQLQ scores (β coefficient: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.38 to -0.18, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Comorbidities independently impact a broad spectrum of outcomes in difficult asthma. Systematic evaluation of these conditions is essential in difficult asthma.
Authors: James H Hull; Emil S Walsted; Matt J Pavitt; Andrew Menzies-Gow; Vibeke Backer; Guri Sandhu Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2019-02-15 Impact factor: 21.405