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Profile of adults suffering from asthma in Poland — results of PulmoScreen study
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Abstract
Material and methods: This questionnaire study included a representative sample of 1852 general practitioners (GPs) who were asked to complete questionnaires on the diagnosis and treatment of their patients with asthma.
Results: Altogether 1250 GPs provided information about 10 981patients. Controlled asthma had 21.2% patients, 46.9% partly controlled, and 31.9% uncontrolled asthma. Allergy skin prick tests were performed in 64.8%, bronchial reversibility tests in 58.1% and bronchial provocation tests in 9.8% of patients. Spirometry results were obtained for 41.9% of patients. In the last year 16.6% of patients underwent emergency intervention due to asthma exacerbation and 18.1% required hospitalization.
Conclusions: In Polish asthma patients the frequency of allergological and pulmonological visits as well as the frequency of spirometric assessment are poorly associated with asthma control level. The diagnostic tests recommended by international and national guidelines for the management of asthma are performed too seldom. Hospitalizations and emergency interventions related to asthma exacerbations are found in a large portion of patients and depend on their gender and asthma control level. Asthma has a negative impact on everyday activity in more than half of patients. Proper assessment of the level of causes asthma control according to GINA guidelines poses problems to Polish general practitioners.
Abstract
Material and methods: This questionnaire study included a representative sample of 1852 general practitioners (GPs) who were asked to complete questionnaires on the diagnosis and treatment of their patients with asthma.
Results: Altogether 1250 GPs provided information about 10 981patients. Controlled asthma had 21.2% patients, 46.9% partly controlled, and 31.9% uncontrolled asthma. Allergy skin prick tests were performed in 64.8%, bronchial reversibility tests in 58.1% and bronchial provocation tests in 9.8% of patients. Spirometry results were obtained for 41.9% of patients. In the last year 16.6% of patients underwent emergency intervention due to asthma exacerbation and 18.1% required hospitalization.
Conclusions: In Polish asthma patients the frequency of allergological and pulmonological visits as well as the frequency of spirometric assessment are poorly associated with asthma control level. The diagnostic tests recommended by international and national guidelines for the management of asthma are performed too seldom. Hospitalizations and emergency interventions related to asthma exacerbations are found in a large portion of patients and depend on their gender and asthma control level. Asthma has a negative impact on everyday activity in more than half of patients. Proper assessment of the level of causes asthma control according to GINA guidelines poses problems to Polish general practitioners.
Keywords
asthma; adults; diagnostic; quality; asthma control; primary care Pneumonol


Title
Profile of adults suffering from asthma in Poland — results of PulmoScreen study
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Pages
402-411
Published online
2012-08-27
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2012;80(5):402-411.
Keywords
asthma
adults
diagnostic
quality
asthma control
primary care Pneumonol
Authors
Grzegorz M. Brożek
Marcin Nowak
Władysław Pierzchała
Jan E. Zejda