Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma

Asthma is estimated to affect approximately 4—11% of the general population and its prevalence is increasing continuously. A large number of epidemiological studies on the prevalence of asthma and the level of disease control have been carried out, in which the level of control defined by GINA objec...

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Main Authors: Fulvio Braido, Giorgio Walter Canonica
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2008-02-01
Series:Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1753465807087091
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author Fulvio Braido
Giorgio Walter Canonica
author_facet Fulvio Braido
Giorgio Walter Canonica
author_sort Fulvio Braido
collection DOAJ
description Asthma is estimated to affect approximately 4—11% of the general population and its prevalence is increasing continuously. A large number of epidemiological studies on the prevalence of asthma and the level of disease control have been carried out, in which the level of control defined by GINA objectives was shown to be significantly unsatisfactory. Frequently, patients accept suboptimal levels of asthma control, mainly because they do not know how asthma is caused and how it can be treated. Apart from having a deep negative impact on patient's daily life, undiagnosed and undercontrolled asthma can also mean an increased economic burden. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to preventive measures, patient education and self-management programmes. Scientific evidence exists that drugs currently available can achieve all or almost all the objectives indicated by international guidelines in the majority of patients, and to improve patients' HRQL by minimizing the impact of the disease and its treatment from the patient's viewpoint. In conclusion, there is a gap between the level of control that could be reached and what is obtained in real life. This must be reduced through a series of interventions in which both doctor and patient are involved.
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spelling doaj.art-4143a8789ec145f5882b2f8995b133142022-12-21T19:40:27ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease1753-46582008-02-01210.1177/1753465807087091Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthmaFulvio BraidoGiorgio Walter CanonicaAsthma is estimated to affect approximately 4—11% of the general population and its prevalence is increasing continuously. A large number of epidemiological studies on the prevalence of asthma and the level of disease control have been carried out, in which the level of control defined by GINA objectives was shown to be significantly unsatisfactory. Frequently, patients accept suboptimal levels of asthma control, mainly because they do not know how asthma is caused and how it can be treated. Apart from having a deep negative impact on patient's daily life, undiagnosed and undercontrolled asthma can also mean an increased economic burden. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to preventive measures, patient education and self-management programmes. Scientific evidence exists that drugs currently available can achieve all or almost all the objectives indicated by international guidelines in the majority of patients, and to improve patients' HRQL by minimizing the impact of the disease and its treatment from the patient's viewpoint. In conclusion, there is a gap between the level of control that could be reached and what is obtained in real life. This must be reduced through a series of interventions in which both doctor and patient are involved.https://doi.org/10.1177/1753465807087091
spellingShingle Fulvio Braido
Giorgio Walter Canonica
Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease
title Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
title_full Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
title_fullStr Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
title_full_unstemmed Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
title_short Worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
title_sort worldwide differences on the concept of control of asthma
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1753465807087091
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