Predictors of Poor Asthma Control in European Adults

Asthmatics in the community suffer morbidity due to poor asthma control. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines established minimum goals for the management of asthma. Our objective was to quantify the demographic and clinical factors associated with asthma control in adult asthmatics. A population sample of asthmatics 16 years and older was obtained by random digit dialing in seven European countries (France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom), and asthma control was quantified according to daytime and nighttime symptoms, severe episodes, and limits on daily activities due to asthma. Among the 2050 adult current asthmatics surveyed, 35% had good asthma control (0 or 1 GINA goals failed), 40% had moderate asthma control (2 or 3 GINA goals failed), and 25% had poor asthma control (4 or 5 GINA goals failed). Fewer subjects with poor than those with good asthma control had ever received a lung function test, and significantly fewer patients with poor asthma control had been taught by a doctor or nurse how to use their peak flow meter. When questioned about the underlying cause of asthma, only 7.8% of asthmatics mentioned airway inflammation, and only 17.6% stated that inhaled corticosteroids were the most effective medication for reducing airway inflammation. There was more use of quick relief bronchodilator medications in the past 4 weeks among patients with poor asthma control. Asthma management practices and the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of adult asthmatics in the general population are associated with the degree of asthma control.