Advances in the Management of Severe Asthma
Advances in the Management of Severe Asthma
Asthma is a common disease affecting 300 million people worldwide, and the incidence is predicted to rise in the next few decades. Five to ten percent of patients with asthma have severe disease that remains difficult to control despite topical inhaler therapy. This polar group of patients consumes up to 60% of the asthma budget through unscheduled primary care visits and hospital admissions. The disproportionate use of health care services and increased morbidity/mortality of severe asthmatics has led to the formation of European, American, and global severe asthma networks/guideline consortia seeking to understand the characteristics, pathogenesis, and optimal management of this group of patients.
Prevalence and Morbidity of Severe Asthma
Asthma is a common disease affecting 300 million people worldwide, and the incidence is predicted to rise in the next few decades. Five to ten percent of patients with asthma have severe disease that remains difficult to control despite topical inhaler therapy. This polar group of patients consumes up to 60% of the asthma budget through unscheduled primary care visits and hospital admissions. The disproportionate use of health care services and increased morbidity/mortality of severe asthmatics has led to the formation of European, American, and global severe asthma networks/guideline consortia seeking to understand the characteristics, pathogenesis, and optimal management of this group of patients.