C102-20 Self-management of Asthma Among Patients in China (CAPTAIN): A Nationwide Cross-sectional Survey

Rationale Asthma remains a major public health concern in China, with suboptimal disease control despite standardized management guidelines. Patient self-management is a cornerstone of asthma control, yet real-world evidence on its current status in China is limited. This nationwide cross-sectional study aimed to assess self-management behaviors, educational needs, and the utilization of digital tools among adolescents and adults with asthma. Methods A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted across 29 provincial-level regions in China from 21st Oct 2023 to 15th Nov 2024, enrolling 660 physicians and 3,173 patients aged ≥14 years with diagnosed asthma. Data were collected via standardized online questionnaires. The evaluation encompassed patients’ clinical characteristics, self-management awareness, behaviors, and needs, as well as physicians’ practices in patient education. Results The overall asthma control rate was 48.4%. Within the past 12 months, 44.5% reported ≥ 1 emergency department visit or hospitalization for acute exacerbation. 37.5% had comorbidities, with allergic rhinitis the most prevalent (22.6%). Over half the patients knew the triggers, understood preventive measures, and recognized early warning signs. However, 44.5% never underwent allergen screening, and some were even unclear about its purpose. A significant disconnect was identified between patient and physician perspectives on self-management. Specifically, 58.3% of patients considered self-management “very important” (vs. 90.3% of physicians), and 54.3% self-evaluated their management as high-level (agreed by only 10.6% of physicians). Only 51.8% mastered correct inhaler technique, 26.5% proactively asked for technique verification. Regarding follow-up, 34.0% adhered to regular follow-ups every 1-3 months, and 27.3% sought consultation only upon symptoms. Despite 49.4% of physicians recommending pulmonary function tests (PFTs) every 1-6 months, only 38.2% of patients complied. Furthermore, 32.2% underwent PFTs only when symptoms occured, and 8.3% never repeated the test. 50.3% were unaware of their latest FEV1%. While 78.2% of physicians recommended the Asthma Control Test and 61.4% recommended peak-flow monitoring, only 16.4% and 11.5% of patients used these tools, respectively. Only 18.2% of patients used digital asthma management tools, but 85.8% of users found these tools very helpful. Medication reminders, inhaler use guidance, and regular follow-up reminders were the main asthma management issues that patients hoped intelligent tools could address. Conclusions This survey reveals a substantial gap between physician recommendations and patient practices in asthma self-management in China. Deficiencies in disease awareness, objective monitoring, and adherence persist. Strengthening patient education, promoting guideline-based inhaler training, and integrating digital tools could bridge these gaps and enhance asthma control. This abstract is funded by: China Association of Health Promotion and Education, and Chiesi Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.