Asthma Triggers and Control among Adults in an Egyptian Setting

Background: Uncontrolled asthma prevails among asthmatics despite advances in disease management. Epidemiology of asthma and allergies in childhood had gained a considerable research interest. However, adult onset asthma in the Egypt has not been fully characterized.

Objective(s): We aimed to assess the morbidity and factors associated with uncontrolled asthma in a sample of asthmatic adult using standard asthma medications.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the chest outpatient clinics at the major health insurance hospital in Alexandria. A total of 320 asthmatic adults above 18 years were randomly selected and enrolled in the study. Participants were interviewed using standardized predesigned questionnaire.

Results: Asthmatic patients comprised 62.5% females and 37.5% males with mean age of 45.3 ± 12.1. Two thirds of the patient had mild persistent (30.3%) and moderately persistent asthma (30.6%). Moderately controlled asthma was the most frequent (82.5%). Asthma had mild to moderated impact on exercise (30.3%), patient productivity (51.1%) and interruption of daily activity (54.7%). All patients reported never receiving an asthma action plan. Patients with uncontrolled asthma had higher rates of health care use. The overall patient adherence to treatment was mostly low (78.4%) although the satisfaction with health care was generally accepted (87.8%). Several demographics and comorbid conditions were identified as independent factors associated with sever and uncontrolled asthma notably male gender, smoking, working, low income and presence of co-morbidities.

Conclusion: Moderately controlled asthma is prevalent in patients using standard asthma medications in Egypt. There is a need for improving asthma care in asthmatic adult patients. This will require comprehensive evaluation of asthma control and medication use, implementation of treatment plans, control of environmental factors and addressing comorbid conditions.