title: Improved quality of life in asthma patients under long-term therapy: Assessed by AHQ-Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the effects of long-term management on patient quality of life (QOL) would be extremely useful for determining asthma treatment strategies. However, no studies have evaluated QOL over an extended period of time. This study evaluated the changes in QOL, drug management and disease severity in the same asthma patients at an interval of approximately 9 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We re-surveyed asthma patients enrolled in a survey conducted in 2004 to evaluate the effects of approximately a decade of treatment on disease severity and QOL assessed by the Japanese Asthma Health Questionnaire (AHQ-JAPAN).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2179 patients were enrolled in the study from 93 centres, and 1332 patients were included in the per-protocol analysis. Usage rates of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for treatment of stable asthma were over 90% at both time points. The AHQ-JAPAN total score improved significantly from 22.2±19.7 in 2004 to 19.7±19.9 in 2013 (P<.001). Significant improvements were also observed in 5 of 6 subscales of AHQ-JAPAN, with Social Activity constituting the sole exception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthma severity declined and QOL assessed by AHQ-JAPAN improved, which is considered as a reflection of improved asthma control at least partly attributable to widespread use of anti-inflammatory drugs as represented by ICS. The study also revealed the presence of those with poor QOL, especially in patients with concomitant respiratory diseases, and an increase in severe persistent asthma cases, warranting further long-term efforts at improving QOL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN 000010483.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tohda
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Cellular Transplantation Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohkura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nissay Hospital, Nippon Life Saiseikai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organazation Wakayama Hospital, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minakata
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Nanao Hospital, Nanao, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimura
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
keywords: AHQ-Japan questionnaire; Asthma; anti-inflammatory therapy; inhaled corticosteroid; long-acting beta-adrenergic agent; quality of life