title: Control of asthma in real life: still a valuable goal?
abstract: Although studies show that control of asthma can be achieved in the majority of patients, surveys repeatedly show that this is not the case in real life. Important measures to implement in order to achieve asthma control are trained healthcare professionals, a good patient-doctor relationship, patient education, avoidance of exposure to triggers, personalised management and adherence to treatment. These measures help the majority of asthma patients but have not yet been widely implemented and there should be a concerted action for their implementation. Moreover, further and focused research is needed in severe/refractory asthma.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Respiratory Medicine Dept, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Andriana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Respiratory Medicine Dept, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostikas
authors.affiliation: 7th Respiratory Medicine Dept and Asthma Center, Athens Chest Hospital "Sotiria", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.affiliation: 7th Respiratory Medicine Dept and Asthma Center, Athens Chest Hospital "Sotiria", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Lykourgos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kolilekas
authors.affiliation: 2nd Respiratory Medicine Dept, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spiridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papiris
authors.affiliation: 7th Respiratory Medicine Dept and Asthma Center, Athens Chest Hospital "Sotiria", Athens, Greece minagaga@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaga
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents