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KMID : 0383820100690050361
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Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2010 Volume.69 No. 5 p.361 ~ p.367
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Characteristics of Difficult to Treat Asthma in Korea
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Yoo Kwang-Ha
Lee Kwan-Ho
Uh Soo-Taek
Park Yong-Bum
Rhee Yang-Keun
Oh Yeon-Mok
Korean Asthma Study Group
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Abstract
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Background: Difficult-to-treat asthma afflicts a small percentage of the asthma population. However, these patients remain refractory to treat, and account for 40% to 50% of the health costs of asthma treatment, incurring significant morbidity. We conducted a multi-center cross-sectional study to characterize difficult-to-treat asthma in Korea.
Materials and Methods : Subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma and subjects with controlled asthma were recruited from 5 outpatient clinics of referral hospitals. We reviewed medical records of previous 6 months and obtained patient-reported questionnaires composed of treatment compliance, asthma control, and instruments for stress, anxiety, and depression.
Results: We recruited 21 subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma and 110 subjects with controlled asthma into the study. The subjects with difficult-to-treat asthma were associated with longer treatment periods, more increased health care utilization, more medication (oral corticosteroids, number of medication), and more anxiety disorder compared to those of well-controlled asthmatics. There was no difference in age, gender, history of allergy, serum IgE, blood eosinophil count, or body mass index between the 2 groups.
Conclusion: Difficult-to-treat asthma is characterized by increased health care utilization and more co-morbidity of anxiety.
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KEYWORD
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Asthma, Therapeutics, Korea, Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Comorbidity
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