[Factors associated with asthma control in primary care patients: the CHAS study].
BACKGROUND
Asthma control is inadequate in all populations studied to date, leading to a major part of the cost of the disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma in primary care patients and identify the associated factors.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study of the population of primary care asthmatic patients over 18 years old in Spain (n=2159). Asthma control was measured with the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). The sociodemographic variables and treatment compliance were measured using a questionnaire. We built logistic-regression models using Asthma control, a dichotomous variable generated from ACQ score.


RESULTS
The prevalence of uncontrolled asthma was 63.9%. Treatment with oral corticosteroids (OCS) (OR=6.55), greater asthma severity (OR=3.11), presence of a distressing event (OR=2.44), lower significance given to treatment compliance (OR=1.66) and living in a rural area (OR=1.29) are associated with uncontrolled asthma. On the contrary, sex, age, obesity, smoking, alcohol intake and educational level had no effect on asthma control.


CONCLUSIONS
In Spain asthma is still uncontrolled and some factors leading to this situation appear to be modifiable by the health system.
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Clínico, Santiago de Compostela, España.
Francisco Javier
FJ
González Barcala
Ramón
R
de la Fuente-Cid
Rosa
R
Alvarez-Gil
Mónica
M
Tafalla
Javier
J
Nuevo
Francisco
F
Caamaño-Isorna
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
Factores asociados con el control del asma en pacientes de atención primaria en España: el estudio CHAS.