[Asthma on the island of Reunion: an analysis of the severity and therapeutic management].
BACKGROUND
Asthma is a common condition on the island of La Reunion but there are no epidemiological studies that analyse the prevalence, severity and management of the patients.


METHODS
Two studies were undertaken: a CPAM (health insurance) study of 187 patients and an analysis of the data from 253 patients attending a specialist hospital clinic.


RESULTS
In these two studies we found 40% of patients were in GINA group 3 compared with 10% in metropolitan France. Recourse to the emergency department and admission to intensive care were common. There was under-evaluation by the treating physicians who did not classify patients correctly. This under-evaluation also occurred in prescribing with only 1/3 of asthmatics in stages 2 and 3 receiving inhaled corticosteroids. Patient education was poor with 30% receiving a demonstration of inhaler technique and 31% a functional evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
These studies show that the severity profile of asthma on La Reunion is comparable to that in other oceanic countries like Australia and New Zealand rather than metropolitan France. A population study is needed to assess the prevalence of asthma on the island of La Reunion.
Paganin
F
F
Service de Pneumologie et Maladies Infectieuses, GHSR, St Pierre de la Réunion, France.
Prévot
L
L
Assing
M
M
Gilbert
C
C
Bourdin
A
A
Arvin-Berod
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017508:Reunion; D012720:Severity of Illness Index