Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .
Predictors of adherence to treatment in patients with severe asthma treated at a referral center in Bahia, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of adherence to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with severe asthma , to identify predictive factors for adherence and to evaluate the relationship between adherence to treatment and parameters of clinical and functional response . METHODS Prospect i ve cohort study of patients enrolled in the Program for the Control of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in the state of Bahia , Brazil . The study comprised 160 patients with severe asthma , monitored for 180 days in order to evaluate adherence ( dependent variable ) to the prescribed inhaled corticosteroid . Independent variables were assessed at baseline and for a six-month follow-up period by means of interviews and the completion of a st and ardized question naire . Patients recorded the missed doses in a diary . RESULTS Of the 160 patients . 158 completed the study .  Adherence rate was 83.8 % . Of the 158 patients , 112 ( 70.9 % ) were considered adherent ( cut-off point : 80 % of prescribed doses administered ) . There was a significant association between asthma control and adherence to treatment . Predictors of poor adherence were adverse effects , living far from the referral center , limited re sources to pay for transportation and dose schedule . Other factors , such as depressive symptoms , religion and economic status , were not associated with poor adherence . CONCLUSIONS Adherence to asthma treatment was high and was associated with the clinical response to treatment , in a sample of patients with severe asthma enrolled in a public program that provides free medication and the assistance of a multiprofessional specialized team in a referral center
Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .