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João C, Jácome C, Brito D, Teixeira P, Quelhas-Santos J, Amorim L, Barbosa MJ, Bulhões C, Lopes F, Pardal M, Bernardo F, Fonseca JA, Correia de Sousa J. Prevalence and Characterisation of Patients with Asthma According to Disease Severity in Portugal: Findings from the EPI-ASTHMA Pilot Study. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:1441-1453. [PMID: 36303890 PMCID: PMC9594360 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s381716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess the feasibility of the procedures of EPI-ASTHMA. EPI-ASTHMA is a population-based multicentre stepwise study about the prevalence and characterisation of patients with asthma based on disease severity in Portugal. Methods A pilot study of EPI-ASTHMA was conducted with adults from three primary care centres. We followed a stepwise approach comprising 4 stages: stage 0-invitation phone call (n ~1316); stage 1-telephone interview (n ~658); stage 2-clinical assessment with physical examination, diagnostic tests, and patient-reported outcome measures, to confirm the diagnosis of those with possible asthma at stage 1 (n ~160); stage 3-characterization of a subgroup of asthma patients by collecting data through a telephone interview, patient file review and CARATm app (n ~40), after 3-months. The frequency of asthma was calculated in relation to the entire study population (stage 1) and the frequency of difficult-to-treat/severe asthma in relation to the number of asthma patients (stage 3). Results From 1305 adults invited, 892 (68%) accepted to participate (stage 0) and 574 (64%; 53[42-67] y; 43% male) were interviewed (stage 1). From those, 148 (26%; 60[46-68] y; 43% male) were assessed at stage 2, and 46 (31%; 51[39-67] y; 44% male) were diagnosed with asthma. Half of these patients (n = 23) accepted to install the app. Stage 3 was completed by 41 (93%) patients, of whom 31 (83%) had asthma confirmed by their file review. A total of 8% of participants had asthma, of those 17% had difficult-to-treat and 5% severe asthma. Conclusion Attained recruitment rates and the quality of the results confirmed the feasibility of the EPI-ASTHMA stepwise approach. This pilot study provided insight into the improvement of the procedures to be generalized across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina João
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Jácome
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,Correspondence: Cristina Jácome, Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, Porto, 4200-450, Portugal, Email
| | - Dinis Brito
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, ICVS/3Bs, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, PortugaI
| | - Pedro Teixeira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, ICVS/3Bs, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, PortugaI,Association P5 Digital Medical Center (ACMP5), Braga, Portugal
| | - Janete Quelhas-Santos
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Liliana Amorim
- Association P5 Digital Medical Center (ACMP5), Braga, Portugal
| | - Maria João Barbosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, ICVS/3Bs, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, PortugaI,Gualtar Family Health Unit, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Bulhões
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, ICVS/3Bs, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, PortugaI,Vila Verde (VIDA+) Family Health Unit, Braga, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - João Almeida Fonseca
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,MEDIDA Lda, Porto, Portugal,Allergy Unit, Hospital and Institute CUF, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jaime Correia de Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, ICVS/3Bs, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, PortugaI
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