[Clinical survey to understand real asthma life for patients-I]

Although several studies investigate the level of asthma control, real asthma life for patients, factors that influence on patients satisfaction, and reasons for irregular visit have not been studied in Japan.

One thousand and two hundreds patients with adult asthma were studied by internet-based questionnaire from March 25th to 31st in 2009. Satisfaction for asthma management was scored from 0 to 10 and then divided into three groups, such as high (10-8), middle (7-4), and low (3-0) groups. Major questions for these patients were precise explanations on diagnosis of asthma, goal of the treatment, and treatment with medications by the doctors. Furthermore, factors that might have influences on non-adherence and irregular visit by patients were investigated.

Severity of the patients enrolled into this study was 34.8% in mild asthma, 19.2% in moderate asthma, and 7.8% in severe asthma. 81.6% of patients were treated with inhaled corticosteroids or combination of inhaled corticosteroid and long acting inhaled beta(2)-agonist. The average score for satisfaction of patients was 6.83 and satisfaction of patients was 43.2% in high, 48.9% in middle, and 7.9% in low group. Patients with low satisfaction group had not been precisely explained the diagnosis of asthma, goal of the treatment, and treatment with medications by the doctors. Less non-adherence and low number of irregular visits were observed in patients with high satisfaction group.

Although this study was performed by internet-based questionnaire and might not reflect the real management of asthma in Japan, the lower the satisfaction, the less patients received explanations on the diagnosis of asthma, goal of the treatment, and treatment with medications by the doctors. Therefore, explanations for these factors may have great influences on non-adherence and irregular visits in patients with asthma.