Real life profile of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in Turkey

Tuberk Toraks. 2017 Sep;65(3):169-179. doi: 10.5578/tt.54065.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the presentation of similar symptoms, the airway diseases have different underlying pathophysiological processes and must be distinguished to enable the administration of appropriate treatment. In several studies the clinician- and patient-related causes of poor compliance to treatment in asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have been evaluated. This study aimed to determine the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve asthma and COPD patients in Turkey.

Materials and methods: This national, multicentre, prospective, observational study was conducted in 122 centres. A questionnaire including items related to demographic, clinical, laboratory parameters was applied. All patients were intended to be followed-up for 12 months.

Result: 1892 adult patients (1116 asthma and 776 COPD) from 122 centres were enrolled. Overall 95%, 86% and 65% of intermittent, mild persistent and moderate persistent asthma patients were over-treated. Among COPD patients, the percentages of over-treated patients were 66%, 79% and 82% for those with GOLD stage A, B and C. Physicians' adherence to guidelines was appropriate in 93% of severe persistent asthma patients and 89% of GOLD stage D COPD patients. Among patients with high compliance to treatment, proportion of asthma patients with total control was 44% and that of COPD patients at GOLD stage A was 41%. In consecutive two visits, this figure increased to 52% and 63% in asthma patients and 54% and 50% in COPD patients.

Conclusions: The main findings are: (a) patients are frequently over-treated and (b) patients do not adhere to visits as expected, in both asthma and COPD.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Turkey
  • Young Adult