Results of the cross sectional phase of the PROXIMA study, an Italian observational two phase study of severe allergic asthma patients to determine the prevalence of perennial vs seasonal asthma and to evaluate asthma control

Author:

Bargagli, E 1; Bucca, C 2; Zappa, MC 3; Berlendis, M 4; Michetti, G 5; Rigoni, L 6; Canonica, WG 7; PROXIMA

Author address:

1 A.O.U. Senese Policlinico Le Scotte, U.O.C. Pneumologia Universitaria, Siena, Italy; 2 A.O.U Molinette, S.C.U. Pneumologia, Turin, Italy; 3 OspedaleSandro Pertini, S.C. Pneumologia, Roma, Italy; 4 A.O.Spedali Civili, Pneumologia, Brescia, Italy; 5 A.O. Papa Giovanni XXIII, Pneumologia, Bergamo, Italy; 6 MedicalDepartment, Novartis Farma, Origgio, Italy; 7 Allergyand Respiratory Diseases, DIMI, University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino, Genoa, Italy

Full conference title:

European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress 2016

Date: 20 August 2020

Abstract:

Background: Medical literature lacks information regarding the amount of patients presenting with severe allergic asthma driven by the perennial allergens in Italy. To answer this question and to describe the specific characteristics of severe allergic asthma patients, PROXIMA study was conducted.

Method: PROXIMA is an observational study involving 25 Italian centers. The study design consists of two phases: 1 cross-sectional enrolling patients with a diagnosis of severe allergic asthma aged ≥18 years (GINA step 4) eligible for a step up in therapy; 2 prospective enrolling only patients starting omalizumab add-on therapy at baseline visit. Primary objective of the cross sectional phase: describe the prevalence of the perennial type of allergy in patients affected by severe allergic asthma. Secondary objectives: 1 the patient’s disease perception at baseline assessed by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, 2 the level of control assessed by Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

Results: Amongst the 365 enrolled patients, 96.4% have been eligible for cross-sectional evaluation and 35.6% entered the longitudinal phase. Males are 35% of patients; mean age is 50.4 years (range 18–82); mean disease duration and age at diagnosis are 17.9 and 32.7 years respectively. Mean number of exacerbations is 3.4 in the 12 months prior to study entrance.329 (93.5%) patients are positive to a perennial aeroallergen according to clinician evaluation (95% CI: 90.4%–95.6%). Considering calculated classification, 81.8% of patients have perennial asthma in terms of positive results at Dermatophagoides farina, Dermatophagoides pteronissymus, Aspergillus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium, Cat epidermal and Dog epidermal allergen. Polisensitized patients represent the 83.2% and mean number of positive aeroallergens is 3.6.Statistically significant differences between perennial and seasonal allergic types were not evident from the Brief-IPQ questionnaire, with a mean score of 6.8 and ACQ, mean score 2.4.

Conclusion: Severe asthmatic population allergic at least to one perennial allergen represents in Italy the majority of patients. This supports the concept that Most of the severely affected allergic asthmatic patients, although polisensitized, are symptomatic throughout the year, independently of seasonal allergens. Patients with severe allergic asthma have a high number of exacerbations/year, are not well controlled with current treatments, and have a higher disease burden.

Abstract Number: 1182

Link to conference website:

Link Conference abstract: 

EAACI 2016

Conference abstracts, posters & presentations

Showing 10 posts of 17325 posts found.

  • Title

    Author

    Year

    Number

    Poster