title: Evaluation of asthma control and patient's perception of asthma: findings and analysis of a nationwide questionnaire-based survey in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about asthma control and perception of asthma among asthmatic patients on a national scale in China due to the difficulty of conducting a survey of the large, vastly distributed population of the country. We know that the medical insurance system may not evenly cover all patients and that socioeconomic status varies greatly across cities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study marks the first survey conducted on a national scale that was aimed at obtaining baseline information on asthma control and patients' perceptions of asthma and providing a point of reference for future studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This face-to-face, questionnaire-based survey was conducted from April 2007 to March 2008 in 3069 asthmatic patients from the respiratory outpatient clinics of 36 general hospitals located in 10 geographically dispersed cities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Per the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, 28.7% and 45.0% of our patients achieved complete or partial asthma control, respectively. Of patients in the study, only 21.8% had used a peak flow meter (PFM) and 6.6% of these patients used it daily. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus a long-acting β2 agonist and ICS were the two most common medication regimens and were used in 45.6% and 30.4% of patients, respectively. Asthma had a significant effect on patients' life and work. A considerable number of hospitalizations, emergency department visits and sick days were also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite improvements in asthma control and ICS and PFM compliance compared with past literature, the current level of asthma control countrywide continues to fall short of the goals set in the GINA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Peking University , Beijing , China .
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Jiangtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Changgui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kaisheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chuntao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yiqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yadong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xingang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents