[INCLIASMA project - Clinical inertia in asthma]

Asthma is a highly prevalent disease limiting the quality of life of patients and has high health costs. Despite having clinical practice guidelines, poor asthma control continues to be detected. The objective of this project is to study asthma management from primary care consultations in Aragón, Spain.

Qualitative, multicenter and non-randomized study, developed in two-round, following Delphi methodology. A group of a group of Primary Care physicians with extensive experience in asthma management were asked to express their level of agreement with the set of items of the questionnaire proposed by the scientific committee of the project. The 28-item survey was structured in 4 blocks: diagnosis, control, adherence and treatment.

The survey was answered by 15 experts. Consensus was reached in 82.14% (23/28) of the items. Difficulties were found in diagnosing asthma early and accurately. There is a confusion between control and severity. The perception of adherence is highly variable. There is an overuse of short-acting bronchodilators. Much therapeutic inertia is evidenced.

The INCLIASMA study highlights the existing controversies between what is advised in the guidelines of clinical practice and the real evidence and provides recommendations to correct the differences found.