Severe asthma: Clinical features and management in Tunisia

Ref ID: 18423

Author:

Manel Loukil, Sana Cheikh Rouhou1, Nawel Ben Salem1, Hajer Racil1,
Nawel Chaouch, Mourad Zarrouk, Abdellatif Chabbou.

Author address:

Pneumology
Department, Abderrahmene Mami Hospital, MSP, Ariana, Tunisia; Research
Unit: Insuffisance Respiratoire Chronique, El Manar University, Tunis Medical
School MESRS, Tunis, Tunisia

Full conference title:

European Respiratory Congress

Abstract:

Chronic severe asthma (CSA) is a complex and heterogeneous condition with
distinct subphenotypes leading to impaired quality of life and excessive healthcare
need. Aim of the study was to describe the different subphenotypes of CSA and to
assess its management in Tunisia.
Methods: The clinical data of 54 patients (1998-2011) with CSA were analysed.
Three groups were identified according to the CSA WHO definition. G1: untreated
CSA due to unavailability of therapy, G2: difficult-to-treat CSA due to compliance
issues and inappropriate use of medicines, and G3: treatment-resistant CSA. The
latter includes 2 subgroups: uncontroled asthma despite the highest level of recommended
treatment (G3a) and asthma which is controled only with the highest
level of recommended treatment (G3b).
Results: Patients are distributed as follows: G1: 27 patients (50%), G2: 8 patients
(15%), G3: 19 patients (25%) including 9 cases of G3a (17%) and 10 cases of
G3b (18%). Treatment included high doses of inhaled corticosteroids in all groups,
long acting β 2-agonists were available for G2 and G3 but not for G1 due to
absence of social coverage. Oral corticosteroids were prescribed in 18 patients
(33%), among whom 50% belong to G1. Admissions in intensive care unit for
severe exacerbation were recorded in 18 cases (29%) and near-fatal-asthma was
diagnosed in 13 cases (21%). CSA aetiologies were allergy: 37 cases, allergic
bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: 3 cases, gastro oesophageal reflux: 4 cases and
sensitivity to aspirin: 1 case.
Conclusions: Management of CSA in Tunisia hospitals still suffers from unavailability
of appropriate therapy for an important proportion of patients, which makes
recourse to oral corticosteroids more frequent than in the reported literature.

Abstract Number: P4089

Conference Year: 2011

Link to conference website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n874BFyyn5g&feature=BFa&list=PLDAB6A352F6A78D89

New link: NULL

Conference abstracts, posters & presentations

Showing 10 posts of 17325 posts found.

  • Title

    Author

    Year

    Number

    Poster