title: [Profile of adults suffering from asthma in Poland--results of PulmoScreen study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adult patients with diagnosis of asthma remain largely under the care of primary care physicians (general practitioners). Thus, they play an important role in diagnosing and treating this population. The aim of the study was to characterize of adults with asthma remaining under the care of Polish general practitioners (GP) as well as to evaluate the use of diagnostic tools and treatment in light of GINA recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This questionnaire study included a representative sample of 1852 general practitioners (GPs) who were asked to complete questionnaires on the diagnosis and treatment of their patients with asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 1250 GPs provided information about 10 981patients. Controlled asthma had 21.2% patients, 46.9% partly controlled, and 31.9% uncontrolled asthma. Allergy skin prick tests were performed in 64.8%, bronchial reversibility tests in 58.1% and bronchial provocation tests in 9.8% of patients. Spirometry results were obtained for 41.9% of patients. In the last year 16.6% of patients underwent emergency intervention due to asthma exacerbation and 18.1% required hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Polish asthma patients the frequency of allergological and pulmonological visits as well as the frequency of spirometric assessment are poorly associated with asthma control level. The diagnostic tests recommended by international and national guidelines for the management of asthma are performed too seldom. Hospitalizations and emergency interventions related to asthma exacerbations are found in a large portion of patients and depend on their gender and asthma control level. Asthma has a negative impact on everyday activity in more than half of patients. Proper assessment of the level of causes asthma control according to GINA guidelines poses problems to Polish general practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Profil dorosłych chorujących na astmę w Polsce--wyniki badania PulmoScreen. gbrozek@sum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Grzegorz M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brożek
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Władysław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pierzchała
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zejda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents