The limitations of severe asthma: the results of a European survey.
BACKGROUND
Asthma has a major impact on patients' lives, and severe asthma is a serious health problem. The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) commissioned a telephonic survey to capture the views of people who are living with severe asthma in Europe.


METHODS
A total of 1300 patients from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden who reported a previous diagnosis of asthma and reported receiving asthma medication took part in the survey.


RESULTS
Most patients reported having limitations to their lifestyles as a consequence of the symptoms of severe asthma. Almost 70% of patients reported that physical activity was restricted, 50% were restricted from having pets, 30% from taking holidays, and many felt their job prospects were limited. In addition, 50% of this population of patients were not convinced that guideline goals were being achieved, although it is not clear as to the cause of this failing. Patients indicated that they want treatments that are fast-acting, long-lasting and have minimal side effects, and they were optimistic for the development of effective therapies over the next 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide insight into how greatly patients' lives are affected by severe asthma.
Dockrell
M
M
The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA), Brussels, Belgium.
Partridge
M R
MR
Valovirta
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life