characterisation of patients with severe asthma in primary and secondary care settings in europe reported to be eligible for biological therapy

Conditions: Severe Asthma

Summary: this is a multi-country, multicentre, observational cross-sectional one-visit study of patients suffering from severe asthma in primary and secondary care settings in europe

this study aims to generate real-world data on the characteristics of patients considered to have severe asthma in primary and secondary care settings that should be referred for assessment for biologics. it is anticipated that these data from european countries, will help to estimate the unmet need for better treatments in severe asthma patients and will provide supporting evidence on the current shortcomings in referrals to asthma specialist or secondary care clinics. this information could also support the development of better severe asthma care pathways across europe. approximately 1,500 other patients like you will take part in the recognise study.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * male or female patients aged 18 years or older with physician's confirmed diagnosis of asthma. * diagnosis of asthma defined as severe according to american thoracic society/european respiratory society (ats/ers) guidelines, i.e.: asthma requiring high-dose ics plus at least one of the following additional controller\[s\] for 12 months (gina step 4/5): long-acting beta2-agonist (laba), leukotriene modifier, theophylline, or continuous or near continuous ocs \[i.e.,maintenance ocs for ≥50% of the previous year\])(controlled or uncontrolled). nb: high dose ics defined according to gina * one documented blood eos (%) or absolute count in the last 12 months * twelve months of documented baseline data in medical records or asked on study visit day including asthma medication, especially oral corticosteroid (ocs) treatment and history of asthma exacerbations (number and severity) * evidence of one pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second (fev1) in last 12 months or on study visit day * patients must be able and willing to read and comprehend written instructions, and comprehend and complete the questionnaires required by the protocol * after full explanation, patients must have signed an informed consent document indicating that they understand the purpose of and the procedures required for the study and are willing to participate in the study exclusion criteria: * other respiratory conditions including: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (as main diagnosis), bronchiectasis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, alpha-1-antitrypsine-deficiency, and malignancy of any kind (nb: the following conditions are permitted: nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). * concurrent biologics for asthma except for stable allergen immunotherapy (defined as a stable dose and regimen at the time of the study visit). acceptable washout periods for other asthma biologics: 1. other eosinophil lowering products indicated for asthma (including mepolizumab or reslizumab): at least 4 months. 2. prior omalizumab use: at least 1 month * an acute or chronic condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would limit the patient's ability to complete questionnaires or participate in this study or impact the interpretations of results * patient is participating in an ongoing randomized clinical trial or participation in an observational trial that might, in the investigator's opinion, influence the assessment for the current study.