Difficult-to-control asthma in adults

Forest H Mealey; Nicholas J Kenyon; Mark V Avdalovic; Samuel Louie

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.10.015

Difficult-to-control asthma in adults

Am J Med. 2007 Sep;120(9):760-3. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.10.015.

Authors

Forest H Mealey¹, Nicholas J Kenyon, Mark V Avdalovic, Samuel Louie

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento 95817, USA.

PMID: 17765041
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.10.015

Abstract

Difficult-to-control asthma in adults is under-diagnosed and under-treated in the United States, particularly in those 40 years of age or older. Increasing attention has been focused on the subset of adult patients with poorly controlled asthma because they consume up to 85% of all health care dollars spent on asthma, while representing 20% of all asthma patients. In this article, we define difficult-to-control asthma and discuss the problem of misdiagnosis. We present an algorithm for confirming the diagnosis in these patients and highlight the importance of patient self-assessment.

MeSH terms

Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
Adult
Algorithms
Ambulatory Care
Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Asthma / diagnosis*
Asthma / prevention & control*
Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use
Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
Humans
Leukotriene Antagonists / therapeutic use
Omalizumab
Spirometry

Substances

Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
Anti-Asthmatic Agents
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Bronchodilator Agents
Glucocorticoids
Leukotriene Antagonists
Omalizumab