[Perception of asthma control in asthma patients].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proportion of asthma patients with poor perception of asthma control and to evaluate the characteristics of this subgroup.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study in which consecutive outpatients (over the age of 12) with mild, moderate, or severe asthma were selected. The patients underwent clinical examination and pulmonary function tests, as well as being assessed for depression and perception of asthma control. The degree of concordance between patients and physicians regarding the perception of asthma control was determined. Patients with good perception of asthma control were compared, in terms of characteristics, with those presenting poor perception.


RESULTS
The degree of concordance between patients and physicians regarding the perception of asthma control was low (kappa index = 0.5). Of the 289 patients included, 66 (23%) presented poor perception of asthma control. The preliminary univariate analysis revealed that the patients with poor perception of asthma control were older, had a lower income, and presented a lower degree of asthma severity. Those factors did not change in the multivariate analysis. There were no differences between the groups in terms of gender, frequency of having literate patients, duration of asthma symptoms, having been diagnosed with rhinitis, frequency of depression, pulmonary function, or treatment compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of poor perception of asthma control in asthma patients is high, especially in elderly patients with lower income and a lower degree of asthma severity.
Ponte
Eduardo Vieira
EV
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Saúde, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil. evponte@yahoo.com.br
Petroni
Jaqueline
J
Ramos
Daniela Campos Borges
DC
Pimentel
Luciana
L
Freitas
Daise Naiane
DN
Cruz
Alvaro A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors