Treatment outcome of asthma after one year follow-up in health centres of several developing countries.
METHODS
Seven selected out-patient clinics caring for asthma patients in Algeria, Guinea, Morocco, Syria, Turkey and Vietnam.


METHODS
Evaluation of treatment outcomes after one year of follow-up of a cohort of asthma patients consecutively enrolled in a prospective study evaluating routine practice.


RESULTS
Among 310 asthma patients registered, the following outcomes were recorded after one year of follow-up: 95 (31%) successful, 61 (20%) under control, 35 (11%) failed, 116 (37%) defaulted and 3 (1%) transferred. Among the 167 (53.9%) patients still on treatment after one year there was a substantial increase in the proportion of patients classified as intermittent at the end of treatment (from 11% to 53%), with a decrease in all categories of persistent asthma (from 34% to 12% for mild, 45% to 28% for moderate and 10% to 8% for severe asthma).


CONCLUSIONS
While patients' quality of life can be improved if they follow regular treatment, the key challenge in providing care is to ensure that patients adhere to their treatment.
Aït-Khaled
N
N
Asthma Division, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France. naitkhaled@iuatld.org
Enarson
D A
DA
Bencharif
N
N
Boulahdib
F
F
Camara
L M
LM
Dagli
E
E
Karadag
B
B
Koadag
B
B
Ottmani
S E
SE
Pham
D L
DL
Sow
O
O
Yousser
M
M
Zidouni
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016701:Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol