Insights, attitudes, and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients fr
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journal
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Open Access
Insights, attitudes, and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: findings from a multinational survey of patients from Latin America Jorge F Maspero1*, Jose R Jardim2, Alvaro Aranda3, Paolo Tassinari C4, Sandra N Gonzalez-Diaz5, Raul H Sansores6, Jorge J Moreno-Cantu7 and James E Fish8
Abstract Background: In 2011 the Latin America Asthma Insight and Management (LA AIM) survey explored the realities of living with asthma. We investigated perception, knowledge, and attitudes related to asthma among Latin American asthma patients. Methods: Asthma patients aged ≥12 years from four Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico responded to questions during face-to-face interviews. A sample size of 2,169 patients (approximately 400 patients/location) provided an accurate representation of asthma patients’ opinions. Questions probed respondents’ views on topics such as levels of asthma control, frequency and duration of exacerbations, and current and recent use of asthma medications. Results: A total of 2,169 adults or parents of children with asthma participated in the LA AIM survey. At least 20% of respondents experienced symptoms every day or night or most days or nights. Although 60% reported their disease as well or completely controlled, only 8% met guideline criteria for well-controlled asthma. 47% of respondents reported episodes when their asthma symptoms were more frequent or severe than normal, and 44% reported seeking acute care for asthma in the past year. Asthma patients in Latin America overestimated their degree of asthma control. Conclusions: The LA AIM survey demonstrated the discrepancy between patient perception of asthma control and guideline-mandated criteria. Additional education is required to teach patients that, by more closely following asthma management strategies outlined by current guidelines more patients can achieve adequate asthma control. Keywords: Asthma, Controlled, Guidelines, Exacerbation, Patient burden, Symptoms
Introduction Asthma is a common disease across the world which affects people in all age groups and exerts a significant burden on patients and their families. Overall, asthma imposes a high societal burden in terms of productivity loss as well as resource utilization arising from poor asthma control. In recent years, educational initiatives were implemented to ensure that physicians know the latest evidence-based asthma treatment guidelines and are able to incorporate those guidelines in their clinical practices [1]. Evidencebased guidelines provide objective strategies to achieve and * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Allergy and Respiratory Research Unit, Fundacion CIDEA, Paraguay 2035, Buenos Aires, 2 SS, Argentina Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
measure asthma control, although patients’ self-assessment of their asthma severity and level of control are not objective. Although guidelines offer an algorithm to assess disease
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