Unscheduled healthcare resource use among asthma patients receiving low-dose inhaled corticosteroids maintenance treatment

This survey describes asthma control and unscheduled healthcare resource use (HCRU) among patients receiving low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone in five European countries and the USA. Physicians and patients completed forms collecting data on asthma symptoms, sudden increase in chest/respiratory symptoms, asthma-related HCRU, quality of life (QoL) and drug therapy. Fifty-seven per cent of patients on low-dose ICS alone had physician-rated moderate or severe asthma. Only 13% of patients receiving low-dose ICS alone achieved asthma control; 36% reported nocturnal wakening and 22% reported unscheduled healthcare services in the past year. Gender, symptom frequency, episodes of sudden increase in chest/respiratory symptoms and impaired QoL were all related to unscheduled healthcare resource utilisation. Many patients receiving low-dose ICS alone do not have adequate asthma control. Some patient characteristics were found to be significantly different, but not exclusive, between unscheduled healthcare resource users and non-users.