title: Difficult-to-control asthma in adults.
abstract: Difficult-to-control asthma in adults is under-diagnosed and under-treated in the United States, particularly in those 40 years of age or older. Increasing attention has been focused on the subset of adult patients with poorly controlled asthma because they consume up to 85% of all health care dollars spent on asthma, while representing 20% of all asthma patients. In this article, we define difficult-to-control asthma and discuss the problem of misdiagnosis. We present an algorithm for confirming the diagnosis in these patients and highlight the importance of patient self-assessment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Forest H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Mealey
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: Mark V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Avdalovic
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louie
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069444:Omalizumab; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D000069444:Omalizumab