National asthma observational survey of severe asthmatics in Israel: the no-air study.
BACKGROUND
Asthma is considered a global public health issue requiring a significant medical expenditure as a result of its high prevalence and the low rate of disease control.


OBJECTIVE
This is the first nationwide survey of severe asthma patients carried out in Israel. In this study we aimed to assess health resources utilization, compliance with treatment and disease-control in a subgroup of patients with severe asthma in Israel.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-three patients with a diagnosis of asthma for more then one year, as well as a hospitalization during the last 12 months due to asthma exacerbation or maintenance systemic steroids therapy, were included in this non-interventional observational study.


RESULTS
Asthma was uncontrolled in 43.9%, partly controlled in 50.4% and well controlled in only 5.7%. The majority of the patients (83%) were compliant with drug treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The fact that 83% of the asthma patients included in this study were compliant with their asthma therapy was not manifested in asthma control. Therefore concrete tools are required for achieving and maintaining asthma control, especially in the treatment of the most severe asthmatic patients.
Pulmonary Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, affiliated with the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine, Jerusalem, 91031, Israel. izbicki@szmc.org.il.
Gabriel
G
Izbicki
Anna
A
Grosman
Zeev
Z
Weiler
Tiberiu
T
Shulimzon
Uri
U
Laxer
Gershon
G
Fink