title: Asthma control in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists: A population-based analysis in Germany.
abstract: The prevalence and the characteristics of poor asthma control among adults treated with combinations of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) are not completely understood.
  
  
  
  Data from adult patients in Germany with self-reported asthma treated with an ICS-LABA combination in the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) were analysed. Patients with well-controlled and not well-controlled asthma according to the Asthma Control Test (ACT) score were compared, with respect to socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes, adherence and outcomes.
  
  
  
  Among the German patients with self-reported asthma (5.2% of the respondents), 16.2% (382 patients) were treated with an ICS-LABA combination and did not report concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis or emphysema. In this subgroup, 55.8% had not well-controlled asthma (ACT < 20). ICS-LABA treated patients with not well-controlled asthma were more likely to report emergency visits (16.4% vs. 8.9%), missed more time from work (absenteeism: 12.9% vs. 4.3%), were more impaired while at work (presenteeism: 29.0% vs. 14.9%) and were more likely to be women (69.0% vs. 57.4%), compared with well-controlled patients. There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, smoking, income, education or self-reported adherence between the two groups, but different attitudes regarding the patient-physician relationship.
  
  
  
  A substantial proportion of patients treated with ICS and LABA had not well-controlled asthma. These patients did not differ from well-controlled patients in terms of education or self-reported adherence, but in terms of their attitudes regarding the patient-physician relationship.
authors: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Medical Affairs Respiratory Medicine, Ingelheim, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Kondla
authors: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Medical Affairs Respiratory Medicine, Ingelheim, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Glaab
authors: Kantar Health, Epsom, Surrey, UK; RTI Health Solutions, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Pedersini
authors: University of Rostock, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rostock, Germany. Electronic address: marek.lommatzsch@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Lommatzsch
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000188:drug therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
keywords: Asthma control; Germany; Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); Long-acting beta-agonitsts (LABA); Quality of life