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Pfeffer PE, Brown T, Chaudhuri R, Faruqi S, Gore R, Heaney LG, Mansur AH, Pantin T, Patel M, Rupani H, Siddiqui S, Vyas A, Busby J. Impact of comorbidities on EQ-5D quality-of-life index in severe asthma. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2024; 3:100286. [PMID: 39071731 PMCID: PMC11277382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background Severe asthma pathology encompasses a wide range of pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits with a high prevalence of comorbidities. Although asthma-specific health-related quality-of-life measures are most sensitive to changes in asthma control, generic measures, such as EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire), are potentially better for capturing the impact of comorbidities. Objective We sought to examine the impact of pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits on quality of life at initial severe asthma assessment, and to compare the characteristics of those patients whose quality of life does and does not improve during follow-up at severe asthma centers. Methods Patients' characteristics at baseline assessment within the UK Severe Asthma Registry were compared by EQ-5D-5L utility index quartile. Patients with follow-up review data were stratified by change in EQ-5D-5L utility index from baseline to follow-up, and characteristics similarly examined. Results Patients in the quartiles with worst dysutility at baseline were observed to exhibit more treatable traits and in particular extrapulmonary traits associated with cumulative systemic corticosteroids, including obesity, anxiety/depression, and osteoporosis. In those patients whose quality of life improved over follow-up, a reduction in exacerbations, uncontrolled symptoms, and requirement for maintenance oral corticosteroids were observed. Conclusions Both pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits are important determinants of quality of life in severe asthma. Comorbidities associated with cumulative systemic corticosteroid exposure are particularly associated with worse quality of life, emphasizing the importance of early identification and management of severe asthma before comorbidities develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Pfeffer
- Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Brown
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Rekha Chaudhuri
- Gartnavel General Hospital and University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shoaib Faruqi
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Gore
- Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adel H. Mansur
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Hitasha Rupani
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Salman Siddiqui
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aashish Vyas
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - John Busby
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Prete M, Susca N, Leone P, De Giacomo A, Bray A, Brunori G, Favoino E, Perosa F, Racanelli V. Impact of belimumab therapy on the quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A cohort study. Lupus 2023; 32:1528-1535. [PMID: 37903488 DOI: 10.1177/09612033231210607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and extremely disabling connective-tissue autoimmune disease with a tremendous impact on the quality of life (QoL). Belimumab, a B-lymphocyte-stimulator-specific inhibitor, is the first biologic drug approved as add-on therapy in patients with active, refractory auto-antibody-positive SLE.The impact of belimumab on the QoL of SLE patients was evaluated using a generic questionnaire short-form health survey 36 (SF-36) and the disease-specific questionnaire SLE-specific quality of life (SLEQoL).The Italian version of the SLEQoL and the SF-36 were administered to 46 SLE patients before and after 6 months of belimumab therapy. The control population consisted of 40 age-matched healthy individuals. The questionnaires were completed before and after belimumab treatment and the results were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In addition, data from healthy controls and SLE patients were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Dichotomous variables were compared using Fisher's exact test.For SLE patients, the addition of belimumab to their therapeutic regimen significantly improved their health-related QoL (HRQoL), according to the results of the SF-36 and SLEQoL. The comparison of the data obtained before and after belimumab treatment showed a decrease in all six SLEQoL domains and an increase in all eight SF-36 domains. Moreover, treatment led to a reduction in the median prednisone dose, to 0 mg/day (IQR 0-4.5 mg/day). Before belimumab therapy, SLE patients had a worse HRQoL than the control group, based on both questionnaires, but after belimumab treatment the outcome scores between SLE patients and controls were similar, suggesting that belimumab therapy resulted in a strong improvement in HRQoL. These findings were supported by a decrease in the SELENA-SLEDAI score, a measure of disease activity.In addition to clinical remission and low disease activity, the goals of an innovative therapeutic strategy for SLE should include the attainment of a good HRQoL. Our study demonstrates that the combined use of the SF-36 and SLEQoL questionnaires can provide clinicians with a better understanding of the HRQoL of SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Prete
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Susca
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Andrea De Giacomo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Bray
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Internal Medicine Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Elvira Favoino
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Rheumatological and Autoimmune Systemic Diseases Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Federico Perosa
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Rheumatological and Autoimmune Systemic Diseases Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Centre for Medical Sciences, CISMed, Department of Internal Medicine, Santa Chiara Hospital, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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Kaneko Y, Kameda H, Ikeda K, Yamashita K, Ozaki R, Tanaka Y. Treatment pattern and changes in oral glucocorticoid dose after tocilizumab treatment in patients with adult Still's disease: An analysis of a Japanese claims database. Int J Rheum Dis 2023; 26:1967-1978. [PMID: 37545194 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Intravenous tocilizumab (TCZ-IV) was approved for the treatment of adult Still's disease (ASD) in Japan in May 2019 based on its efficacy and safety in a phase III randomized controlled trial. This study determined treatment patterns in patients with ASD and assessed oral glucocorticoid (GC) dose changes after TCZ-IV administration in Japanese clinical practice. METHODS Patients in the Medical Data Vision database aged 16 years or older with one or more of International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes M061 (ASD) or M082 (systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis) during January 2017-March 2021 (cohort 1) and those initiating TCZ-IV during May 2019-March 2021 (cohort 2) were included. RESULTS In cohort 1, the proportion of patients who were prescribed interleukin-6 inhibitors (mainly TCZ-IV) increased from 10.8% (January-April 2019 [before TCZ-IV approval]; n = 2002) to 18.3% (January-March 2021 [after TCZ-IV approval]; n = 2008). In cohort 2 (n = 193), 84.5% of patients were on oral GCs (≤5 mg/day: 23.8%) at index date (initial TCZ-IV prescription date); 46/70 (65.7%) were on oral GC at 5 mg/day or higher 12 months after TCZ-IV treatment (primary outcome). After 12 months of treatment, the TCZ-IV retention rate was 73.6% and the TCZ-IV administration interval was every 4 weeks and every 2 weeks in 31.9% and 27.7% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION The use of interleukin-6 inhibitors increased by 7.5% points in Japanese patients with ASD ~2 years after TCZ-IV approval, suggesting that an unmet medical need existed. This study suggests the potential GC-sparing effect of TCZ-IV in patients with ASD in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Kaneko
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideto Kameda
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Ikeda
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | | | - Ryoto Ozaki
- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Tanaka
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
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Bellone F, Morace C, Impalà G, Viola A, Gullo AL, Cinquegrani M, Fries W, Sardella A, Scolaro M, Basile G, Squadrito G, Mandraffino G. Quality of Life (QoL) in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: How Much Better with Biological Drugs? J Pers Med 2023; 13:947. [PMID: 37373936 PMCID: PMC10302043 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13060947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are chronic and disabling diseases that affect patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). IBD patients are frequently exposed to high levels of stress and psychological distress. Biological drugs have been proven to reduce inflammation, hospitalization, and most of the complications that characterize IBDs; their potential contribution to patients' HRQoL remains to be explored. AIM To evaluate and compare any change in the HRQoL and markers of inflammation in IBD patients undergoing biological drugs (infliximab or vedolizumab). MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of IBD patients, aged >18 years, who were prescribed with infliximab or vedolizumab. Demographic and disease-related data at baseline were collected. Standard hematological and clinical biochemistry parameters, including C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells count (WBC), erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR), and α1 and α2 globulins were measured after a 12-h fast at baseline (T0), after 6 weeks (T1), and at 14 weeks (T2) of biological treatment. Steroid use, disease activity as measured by the Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI) and partial Mayo score (pMS) for the CD and UC, respectively, were also recorded at each timepoint. The Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-F), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health Questionnaire (WPAI:GH) were administered to each patient at baseline, T1, and T2 to address the study aims. RESULTS Fifty eligible consecutive patients (52% with CD and 48% with UC) were included in the study. Twenty-two patients received infliximab and twenty-eight received vedolizumab. We noted a significant reduction in the CRP, WBC, α1, and α2 globulins from T0 to T2 (p = 0.046, p = 0.002, p = 0.008, and p = 0.002, respectively). Participants showed a significant decrease in steroid administration during the observation period. A significant reduction in the HBI of CD patients at all three timepoints and a similarly significant decrease in the pMS of UC patients from baseline to T1 were recorded. Statistically significant changes were observed in all questionnaires during follow-up as well as an overall improvement in the HRQoL. The interdependence analysis carried out between the biomarkers and the scores of the individual subscales showed a significant correlation between the variation (Δ) of the CRP, Hb, MCH, and MCV with physical and emotional dimensions of the SF-36 and FACIT-F tools; work productivity loss expressed by some of the WPAI:GH items negatively correlated with the ΔWBC and positively with the ΔMCV, ΔMCH, and Δ α1 globulins. A sub-analysis according to the type of treatment showed that patients receiving infliximab experienced a more pronounced improvement in their HRQoL (according to both SF-36 and FACIT-F) compared with patients receiving vedolizumab. CONCLUSIONS Both infliximab and vedolizumab played an important role in contributing to the improvement of the HRQoL in IBD patients by also reducing inflammation and, consequently, steroid use in patients with an active disease. HRQoL, being one of the treatment goals, should also be assessed when taking charge of IBD patients to assess their clinical response and remission. The specific correlation between the biomarkers of inflammation and life's spheres, as well as their possible role as clinical markers of HRQoL, should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bellone
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Carmela Morace
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Impalà
- Unit of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Anna Viola
- IBD Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (A.V.)
| | - Alberto Lo Gullo
- Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, ARNAS Garibaldi Hospital, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Maria Cinquegrani
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Walter Fries
- IBD Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (A.V.)
| | - Alberto Sardella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Mariangela Scolaro
- UOC Cardiologia/Utic Ospedale G. Fogliani Milazzo Asp 5, 98123 Messina, Italy
| | - Giorgio Basile
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Squadrito
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mandraffino
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
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Saccà F, Barnett C, Vu T, Peric S, Phillips GA, Zhao S, Qi CZ, Gelinas D, Chiroli S, Verschuuren JJGM. Efgartigimod improved health-related quality of life in generalized myasthenia gravis: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (ADAPT). J Neurol 2023; 270:2096-2105. [PMID: 36598575 PMCID: PMC10025199 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11517-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There are substantial disease and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) burdens for many patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), especially for those whose disease symptoms are not well controlled. HRQoL measures such as the Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life 15-item revised (MG-QOL15r) and EuroQoL 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) are vital for evaluating the clinical benefit of therapeutic interventions in patients with MG, as they assess the burden of disease and the effectiveness of treatment, as perceived by patients. The phase 3 ADAPT study (NCT03669588) demonstrated that efgartigimod-a novel neonatal Fc receptor inhibitor-was well tolerated and that acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR-Ab+) participants who received efgartigimod had statistically significant improvements in MG-specific clinical scale scores. The ancillary data reported here, which cover an additional treatment cycle, show that these participants had similar significant improvements in HRQoL measures, the MG-QOL15r and EQ-5D-5L utility and visual analog scales, and that these improvements were maintained in the second treatment cycle. Positive effects on HRQoL were rapid, seen as early as the first week of treatment in both treatment cycles, and maintained for up to 4 weeks in the follow-up-only portion of treatment cycles. The pattern of improvements in HRQoL paralleled changes in immunoglobulin G level, and correlational analyses show that improvements were consistent across HRQoL measures and with clinical efficacy measures in the ADAPT study. The substantial and durable improvements in HRQoL end points in this study demonstrate the broader benefit of treatment with efgartigimod beyond relief of immediate signs and symptoms of gMG.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina Barnett
- Prosserman Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Toronto General Hospital/UHN, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tuan Vu
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Stojan Peric
- University of Belgrade-Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center of Serbia-Neurology Clinic, Belgrade, Serbia
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Etra A, Capellini A, Alousi A, Al Malki MM, Choe H, DeFilipp Z, Hogan WJ, Kitko CL, Ayuk F, Baez J, Gandhi I, Kasikis S, Gleich S, Hexner E, Hoepting M, Kapoor U, Kowalyk S, Kwon D, Langston A, Mielcarek M, Morales G, Özbek U, Qayed M, Reshef R, Rösler W, Spyrou N, Young R, Chen YB, Ferrara JLM, Levine JE. Effective treatment of low-risk acute GVHD with itacitinib monotherapy. Blood 2023; 141:481-489. [PMID: 36095841 PMCID: PMC9936304 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The standard primary treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) requires prolonged, high-dose systemic corticosteroids (SCSs) that delay reconstitution of the immune system. We used validated clinical and biomarker staging criteria to identify a group of patients with low-risk (LR) GVHD that is very likely to respond to SCS. We hypothesized that itacitinib, a selective JAK1 inhibitor, would effectively treat LR GVHD without SCS. We treated 70 patients with LR GVHD in a multicenter, phase 2 trial (NCT03846479) with 28 days of itacitinib 200 mg/d (responders could receive a second 28-day cycle), and we compared their outcomes to those of 140 contemporaneous, matched control patients treated with SCSs. More patients responded to itacitinib within 7 days (81% vs 66%, P = .02), and response rates at day 28 were very high for both groups (89% vs 86%, P = .67), with few symptomatic flares (11% vs 12%, P = .88). Fewer itacitinib-treated patients developed a serious infection within 90 days (27% vs 42%, P = .04) due to fewer viral and fungal infections. Grade ≥3 cytopenias were similar between groups except for less severe leukopenia with itacitinib (16% vs 31%, P = .02). No other grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in >10% of itacitinib-treated patients. There were no significant differences between groups at 1 year for nonrelapse mortality (4% vs 11%, P = .21), relapse (18% vs 21%, P = .64), chronic GVHD (28% vs 33%, P = .33), or survival (88% vs 80%, P = .11). Itacitinib monotherapy seems to be a safe and effective alternative to SCS treatment for LR GVHD and deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Etra
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Alexandra Capellini
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Amin Alousi
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Monzr M. Al Malki
- Hematology/Hematopoietic Cell Transplant, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Hannah Choe
- Division of Hematology, James Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Zachariah DeFilipp
- Hematopoietic Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Carrie L. Kitko
- Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Francis Ayuk
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janna Baez
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Isha Gandhi
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Stelios Kasikis
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Sigrun Gleich
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine III, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Hexner
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Matthias Hoepting
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine III, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Urvi Kapoor
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Steven Kowalyk
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Deukwoo Kwon
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Marco Mielcarek
- Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - George Morales
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Umut Özbek
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Muna Qayed
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
| | - Ran Reshef
- Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Wolf Rösler
- Med. Klinik III/Poliklinik, Universitatsklinik Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Spyrou
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Rachel Young
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Yi-Bin Chen
- Hematopoietic Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - James L. M. Ferrara
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - John E. Levine
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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Buttgereit F, Kvien TK. Controversies in rheumatology: maintenance therapy with low-dose glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 62:35-41. [PMID: 35713511 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the use of glucocorticoids in clinical medicine, the risk-benefit ratio of these still very important drugs has been debated. There is no doubt that they produce many desirable therapeutic effects quickly and reliably. However, their potential to cause adverse effects, especially with prolonged use in high doses, limits their applicability. We discuss the arguments against and in favour of maintenance therapy with low-dose glucocorticoids in patients with RA, and present recent studies, assessments and conclusions on this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Buttgereit
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tore K Kvien
- Division of Rheumatology and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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8
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Bleecker ER, Al-Ahmad M, Bjermer L, Caminati M, Canonica GW, Kaplan A, Papadopoulos NG, Roche N, Ryan D, Tohda Y, Yáñez A, Price D. Systemic corticosteroids in asthma: A call to action from World Allergy Organization and Respiratory Effectiveness Group. World Allergy Organ J 2022; 15:100726. [PMID: 36582404 PMCID: PMC9761384 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic corticosteroids (SCS) are a highly effective treatment for acute exacerbations and long-term symptom control in asthma. Long-term SCS use is highly prevalent across all asthma severities, occurring in over 20% of patients with severe or uncontrolled disease globally. It is now well known that exposure to both long-term and repeated acute courses of SCS is associated with a high risk of serious adverse effects (AEs), such as osteoporosis, and metabolic and cardiovascular complications, especially when prescribed onto a background of other corticosteroids. The aim of this call-to-action article, endorsed by the World Allergy Organization and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group, is to review the accumulating evidence on the burden of SCS on patients with asthma and provide an overview of potential strategies for implementing SCS Stewardship. Primary prevention of exacerbations and improvement of asthma control is a key first step in achieving SCS Stewardship, by optimizing maintenance asthma medications and addressing modifiable risk factors, such as adherence and inhaler technique. Other key elements of SCS Stewardship include increasing appropriate specialist referrals for multidisciplinary review, assessment of biomarkers, and consideration of oral corticosteroid-sparing add-on therapies (eg, biologics). In cases where SCS use is deemed clinically justified, it should be tapered to the lowest possible dose. In addition, patients receiving long-term SCS or frequent acute courses should be closely monitored for emergence of SCS-related AEs. Because of the extensive data available on the costly and burdensome AEs associated with SCS use, as well as the range of treatment options now available, there is a need for healthcare providers (HCPs) to carefully evaluate whether the benefits of SCS outweigh the potential harms, to adopt SCS-sparing and Stewardship strategies, and to consider alternative therapies where possible. Development of a structured and collaborative SCS Stewardship approach is urgently required to protect patients from the potential harm of SCS use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene R. Bleecker
- Division of Genetics, Genomics and Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mona Al-Ahmad
- Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Leif Bjermer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marco Caminati
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Walter Canonica
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Alan Kaplan
- Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, Stouffville, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos
- Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, Athens General Children's Hospital ‘P&A Kyriakou’, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nicolas Roche
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, APHP. Centre Université Paris Cité, Cochin Hospital (AP-HP) and Institute (UMR1016), Paris, France
| | - Dermot Ryan
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yuji Tohda
- Kindai University Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Anahí Yáñez
- Center for Research on Allergies and Respiratory Diseases (InAER), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - David Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Corresponding author. Professor David B Price, Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, 22 Sin Ming Lane, #06 Midview City, Singapore 573969
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Mules TC, Swaminathan A, Hirschfeld E, Borichevsky G, Frampton C, Day AS, Gearry RB. The impact of disease activity on psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease-results from the Stress, Anxiety and Depression with Disease Activity (SADD) Study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2022; 55:201-211. [PMID: 34587655 DOI: 10.1111/apt.16616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disease activity may be a risk factor for psychological illness in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIM To correlate objective measures of disease activity with psychological symptoms. METHODS Adult patients with IBD undergoing ileocolonoscopy were prospectively recruited. Demographic, psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress), disease activity (symptoms, biomarkers, endoscopy), and quality of life (QoL) data were collected. One-way ANOVA and multivariable analyses examined the associations between disease activity and symptoms of psychological illness, and identified other predictors of mental illness and reduced QoL. RESULTS A total of 172 patients were included, 107 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 65 with ulcerative colitis (UC). There was no significant association between objective disease activity (endoscopic scores, faecal calprotectin or C-reactive protein) and depression, anxiety or stress scores (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). Gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with CD and UC (P < 0.05). On multivariable analysis, only gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with severe symptoms of depression (OR 20.78 [6.71-92.37], P < 0.001) and anxiety (OR 4.26 [1.70-12.25], P = 0.004). Anti-TNF and corticosteroid use, the presence of severe depressive, moderate-severe stress and gastrointestinal symptoms, and endoscopically active IBD were associated with a reduced QoL (P < 0.05). Longer duration of IBD predicted an improved QoL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Objective measures of disease activity are not associated with symptoms of psychological illness in patients with IBD. Clinicians should consider underlying mental illness in patients with IBD with active gastrointestinal symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Mules
- Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Akhilesh Swaminathan
- Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand.,University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Andrew S Day
- Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand.,University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Richard B Gearry
- Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand.,University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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10
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Tohda Y, Matsumoto H, Miyata M, Taguchi Y, Ueyama M, Joulain F, Arakawa I. Cost-effectiveness analysis of dupilumab among patients with oral corticosteroid-dependent uncontrolled severe asthma in Japan. J Asthma 2021; 59:2162-2173. [PMID: 34752208 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1996596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Background: Asthma is a common, chronic inflammatory airway disorder, with up to 1,177,000 people receiving asthma treatment in Japan. Dupilumab is a first-in-class, monoclonal antibody for the treatment of atopic diseases, including persistent asthma. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of dupilumab, compared with other biologics, as add-on treatment to background therapy in patients aged ≥12 years with uncontrolled, persistent asthma in Japan.Methods: A life-time Markov cohort model was used to conduct cost-effectiveness analysis from the Japanese healthcare payer perspective with an annual discount rate of 2%. Dupilumab was compared with benralizumab and mepolizumab, and against omalizumab (as a hypothetical scenario). Inputs were informed by dupilumab clinical trials (VENTURE [NCT02528214] and QUEST [NCT02414854] trials), the literature, official Japanese sources and expert opinions.Results: The base case results suggest that treatment with dupilumab leads to fewer severe exacerbations and increased life-years (LYs) and quality-adjusted LYs (QALYs) than benralizumab and mepolizumab. At a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of ¥5,000,000 per QALY gained, dupilumab was the dominant strategy (lower cost, increased QALYs) versus benralizumab, and cost-effective versus mepolizumab with an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of ¥1,010,921 (US$9,190, US$1=¥110). Versus omalizumab, dupilumab was not cost-effective (ICER of ¥10,802,368 [US$98,203]).Conclusions: In Japan, dupilumab, as an add-on to background therapy, is economically dominant compared with benralizumab, and cost-effective versus mepolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Tohda
- Kindai University Hospital, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisako Matsumoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine & Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Yurie Taguchi
- Health Economics and Value Assessment, Market Access, Sanofi K.K, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Ueyama
- Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Creativ-Ceutical, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Florence Joulain
- Global Health Economics and Value Assessment, Sanofi, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Ichiro Arakawa
- Office of Human Research Studies, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Sullivan PW, Ghushchyan VH, Skoner DP, LeCocq J, Park S, Zeiger RS. Complications and Health Care Resource Utilization Associated with Systemic Corticosteroids in Children and Adolescents with Persistent Asthma. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2020; 9:1541-1551.e9. [PMID: 33290914 PMCID: PMC8393544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.11.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited comparative data are available on the impact of systemic corticosteroid (SCS) use in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To determine if asthmatic children and adolescents treated with SCS have a higher likelihood of developing complications versus those not receiving SCS and to examine health care resource utilization (HCRU) in this population. METHODS: A retrospective study of data from children and adolescents with persistent asthma retrieved from the MarketScan database, a large US health claims data set, for the period 2000 to 2017 was performed. Propensity score matching was used to pair patients in the SCS and control cohorts. For complications, SCS subgroups (≥4 or 1-3 annual prescriptions) were compared with asthmatic controls without SCS using logistic regression, and for HCRU, cohorts were compared using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: A total of 67,081 patients were included (SCS: 23,898; control: 43,183). The odds of having a complication were 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-3.2; P < .001) and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.6-1.7; P < .001) times higher in the ≥4 and 1 to 3 SCS groups, respectively, in the first year of follow-up versus controls. For asthma-related hospitalizations, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was 6.9 (95% CI, 5.6-8.6) and 3.1 (95% CI, 2.8-3.4) times greater in the ≥4 SCS and 1 to 3 SCS groups, respectively, versus controls; for asthma-related emergency department visits, IRR was 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4-5.6) and 2.9 (95% CI, 2.7-3.0) times greater, respectively, versus controls (all P < .01). CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents receiving SCS for persistent asthma have an increased risk of developing complications and have greater HCRU in the first year of follow-up versus those without SCS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Regis University School of Pharmacy, Denver, Colo.
| | - Vahram H Ghushchyan
- Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colo; American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - David P Skoner
- Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
| | - Jason LeCocq
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ
| | - Siyeon Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Md
| | - Robert S Zeiger
- Department of Allergy, Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region, San Diego, Calif
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12
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Huang W, Yang J, Liu Y, Liu C, Zhang X, Fu W, Shi L, Liu G. Assessing health-related quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer using EQ-5D-5L: a cross-sectional study in Heilongjiang of China. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e022711. [PMID: 30530472 PMCID: PMC6286482 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and its determinants. METHODS A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 300 newly diagnosed patients with CRC in China's Heilongjiang province, measuring HRQoL using the EuroQol five-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L). Kruskal-Wallis analyses were performed to identify the independent variables associated with the EQ-5D-5L utility scores. Predictors of the utility scores were confirmed using a Tobit regression model. RESULTS The respondents had a mean EQ-5D-5L utility score of 0.617 (SD=0.371) and a median of 0.740 (range: -0.348 to 1.000). Pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were major concerns of the respondents, with a prevalence of over 60% (all levels inclusive). The Kruskal-Wallis analyses found lower utility scores in those who were not married, worked as a farmer, enrolled with the new rural cooperative medical scheme and had lower household income (p<0.05). Those who were at a later stage of CRC, underwent surgical only therapy and had a stoma also had lower EQ-5D-5L scores than others (p<0.05). The Tobit regression model confirmed these predictors, except for occupation and marital status. CONCLUSION Patients with CRC have poor HRQoL, with pain/discomfort and depression/anxiety as the most frequently reported problems. The poor HRQoL is associated with the seriousness of the disease condition, as well as the low socioeconomic status of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Huang
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinjin Yang
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chaojie Liu
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenqi Fu
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Limei Shi
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Guoxiang Liu
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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13
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Yu H, Zhang H, Yang J, Liu C, Lu C, Yang H, Huang W, Zhou J, Fu W, Shi L, Yan Y, Liu G, Li L. Health utility scores of family caregivers for leukemia patients measured by EQ-5D-3L: a cross-sectional survey in China. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:950. [PMID: 30285666 PMCID: PMC6171222 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4855-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study assessed the health related quality of life of family caregivers (FCs) of leukemia patients by using the health utility scores derived from the EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaire. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on 306 family caregivers of leukemia patients to assess their health utility using the EQ-5D-3L. Participants were recruited from three hospitals in China's Heilongjiang province. The health utility scores of the participants were estimated based on the Chinese EQ-5D-3L value set and compared with those of the local general population. Factors predicting the health utility scores were identified through the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and median regression analyses. RESULTS FCs had lower health utility scores than the general population (p < 0.001). The participants with a lower socioeconomic status had lower utility scores and reported more problems than those with a higher socio-economic status. Better family function and higher social support were associated with higher health utility scores. The type of leukemia, household income, and social support are significant predictors of health utility scores of the FCs. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, low socio-economic status, and low social support are associated with lower health utility scores of the FCs. CONCLUSIONS FCs for leukemia patients have lower health utility scores than the local general population, as measured by the EQ-5D-3L. There is an immediate need to address the health concerns of FCs, who play an important role in the Chinese health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjuan Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Affiliate Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Jinjin Yang
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Chaojie Liu
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Chengfang Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Hongbin Yang
- Affiliate Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Weidong Huang
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Jin Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Wenqi Fu
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Linmei Shi
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Guoxiang Liu
- School of Health Management, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Limin Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
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14
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Hyland ME, Lanario JW, Pooler J, Masoli M, Jones RC. How patient participation was used to develop a questionnaire that is fit for purpose for assessing quality of life in severe asthma. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2018; 16:24. [PMID: 29374455 PMCID: PMC5787281 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-018-0851-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research shows that existing asthma quality of life questionnaires fail to measure the burden of oral corticosteroids that can be used to treat severe asthma, and are therefore not fit for purpose for severe asthma according to the USA's Federal Drug Authority's (FDA) criteria for content validity. Patient input and documentation of that input is key to achieving content validity according to FDA guidelines. This paper describes the process of constructing a new questionnaire to measure the burden of asthma symptoms and burden of treatment in severe asthma, using criteria specified by the FDA. METHODS A draft severe asthma questionnaire (SAQ) was constructed using qualitative input from severe asthma patients who took part in an earlier study. The aim of this study was to improve that draft questionnaire using a further group of patients. In four iterative focus groups, 16 people with severe asthma completed the draft questionnaire, discussed the wording and structure and suggested changes that were incorporated into the final version. RESULTS The original intention to ask patients to identify whether problems were caused by asthma symptoms or side effects of medication was abandoned as the attribution of cause was found to be difficult and inconsistent. The recall period of 2 weeks was acceptable but fails to reflect the patients' desire to express the variability of severe asthma. Patients suggested improvements to the wording of the draft questionnaire, including splitting some items in two, combining two items in one, and changes to some of the words in individual items and the response scale. CONCLUSIONS The final version of the questionnaire was substantially different from one constructed using only qualitative reports from patients about the quality of life deficits of severe asthma. Patients make a valuable contribution to the questionnaire if they are asked to comment and improve an initial draft and where patients are treated as partners in the process of questionnaire construction, rather than only as a source of information to experts who construct the questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Hyland
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
- Plymouth Hospital's NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK.
| | - Joseph W Lanario
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
- Plymouth Hospital's NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jill Pooler
- Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Rupert C Jones
- Plymouth Hospital's NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
- Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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