Asthma control and activity limitations: insights from the Real-world Evaluation of Asthma Control and Treatment (REACT) study.
BACKGROUND
Uncontrolled asthma remains prevalent in the United States and confers a substantial burden on the health care system.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between uncontrolled asthma and activity limitations in a nationally representative sample of patients with moderate-to-severe-treated asthma and to assess the degree to which demographics and comorbidities were associated with activity limitations.


METHODS
Patients who participated in the Real-world Evaluation of Asthma Control and Treatment study were surveyed regarding type and degree of activity limitations in 4 categories: outdoor activity, physical activity, daily activity, and environmental triggers. Information about asthma control, demographics, and comorbidities was collected. Multivariable regression was used to assess the association between uncontrolled asthma and activity limitations while adjusting for demographic characteristics and comorbid conditions.


RESULTS
Uncontrolled asthma was associated with a greater than 2-fold risk of outdoor (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90-3.51) or physical (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.90-3.61) activity limitations and a 66% increased risk of daily activity limitations (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.51). Comorbidities associated with activity limitation included hives, chronic sinusitis, arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypercholesterolemia, and depression. The observed associations between uncontrolled asthma and activity limitation remained significant after controlling for demographic characteristics and comorbid conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with patients with controlled asthma, those with uncontrolled asthma are at higher risk for limitations in outdoor activity, physical activity, and daily activity. To help patients achieve optimal health, asthma management should include routine assessment of activity limitations and assessment and coordinated care for comorbid conditions.
Haselkorn
Tmirah
T
Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, USA. haselkorn.tmirah@gene.com
Chen
Hubert
H
Miller
Dave P
DP
Fish
James E
JE
Peters
Stephen P
SP
Weiss
Scott T
ST
Jones
Craig A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D055815:Young Adult