title: Clinical management and outcome of refractory asthma in the UK from the British Thoracic Society Difficult Asthma Registry.
abstract: Refractory asthma represents a significant unmet clinical need. Data from a national online registry audited clinical outcome in 349 adults with refractory asthma from four UK specialist centres in the British Thoracic Society Difficult Asthma Network. At follow-up, lung function improved, with a reduction in important healthcare outcomes, specifically hospital admission, unscheduled healthcare visits and rescue courses of oral steroids. The most frequent therapeutic intervention was maintenance oral corticosteroids and most steroid sparing agents (apart from omalizumab) demonstrated minimal steroid sparing benefit. A significant unmet clinical need remains in this group, specifically a requirement for therapies which reduce systemic steroid exposure.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University of Belfast, Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Chris E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Brightling
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menzies-Gow
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niven
authors.forename: Chris C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Liam G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Heaney
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids