Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Level of asthma control and its impact on activities of daily living in asthma patients in Brazil

J. bras. pneumol. vol.39 no.5 São Paulo Sept./Oct. 2013

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37132013000500002

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Mariana Rodrigues Gazzotti1 , Oliver Augusto Nascimento2, Federico Montealegre3 , James Fish4, José Roberto Jardim5

¹ Professor. Federal University of São Paulo/Paulista School of Medicine and São Camilo University Center, São Paulo, Brazil

São Camilo University Center, São Paulo, Brazil

²Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine , São Paulo, Brazil, Attending Pulmonologist. Federal University of São Paulo/Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

³ Medical Director. Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp., Carolina, PR, USA

Professor. School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Reio Piedras, PR, USA

⁴ Global and Scientific Affairs. Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA

⁵Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil, Tenured Professor of Pulmonology, Federal University of São Paulo/Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the impact of asthma on activities of daily living and on health status in patients with controlled, partially controlled, or uncontrolled asthma in Brazil.

METHODS:

We used data related to 400 patients in four Brazilian cities (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Curitiba), obtained in a survey conducted throughout Latin America in 2011. All study subjects were > 12 years of age and completed a standardized questionnaire in face-to-face interviews. The questions addressed asthma control, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and school/work absenteeism, as well as the impact of asthma on the quality of life, sleep, and leisure. The level of asthma control was determined in accordance with the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria.

RESULTS:

Among the 400 respondents, asthma was controlled in 37 (9.3%), partially controlled in 226 (56.5%), and uncontrolled in 137 (34.2%). The numbers of patients with uncontrolled or partially controlled asthma who visited the emergency room, who were hospitalized, and who missed school/work were higher than were those of patients with controlled asthma (p = 0.001, p = 0.05, and p = 0.01, respectively). Among those with uncontrolled asthma, the impact of the disease on activities of daily living, sleep, social activities, and normal physical exertion was greater than it was among those with controlled or partially controlled asthma (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

In Brazil, asthma treatment should be monitored more closely in order to increase treatment adherence and, consequently, the level of asthma control, which can improve patient quality of life and minimize the negative impact of the disease.

Keywords: Asthma/epidemiology; Quality of life; Hospitalization