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

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-naive 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.