Abstract
ObjectivesWe aimed to identify the percentage inaccuracy in classifying asthma severity as severe asthma based on the 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines criteria, at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and make recommendations to improve the assessment of asthma severity.MethodsAll asthma patients that attended the Pulmonology clinic or the Allergy clinic from May 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed to identify which asthma patients classified as having severe asthma according to the 2019 GINA guidelines criteria. We then calculated the percentage inaccuracy associated with giving diagnoses of severe asthma.ResultsWe retrospectively analyzed a total of 902 patients, and out of those, we identified 334 as patients with severe asthma according to the 2019 GINA guidelines criteria. Of those 334 patients, 218 were given an incorrect asthma severity of either mild (N=14), moderate (N=203), or unspecified asthma severity (N=1) in the hospital’s electronic records. This represents a percentage inaccuracy of 65.3% in classifying asthma severity as severe asthma. Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol was the most used ICS-LABA (inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist) medication in the severe asthma group (58.1%). Fluticasone furoate-vilanterol was identified as the most incorrectly prescribed ICS-LABA medication (68.2%).ConclusionWe identified an inaccuracy of 65.3% in classifying asthma severity as severe at our hospital. This inaccuracy is associated with a lack of understanding of the GINA guidelines by clinicians, as well as a lack of acceptance of some of the criteria in the GINA guidelines by patients. We have made recommendations to help improve the accuracy of asthma severity assessment, in order to be fully adherent to the GINA guidelines criteria.
Highlights
This article was previously presented as a conference abstract at the 2020 EAACI Congress on June 6, 2020, and the 2020 ERS International Congress on September 5, 2020
We retrospectively analyzed a total of 902 patients, and out of those, we identified 334 as patients with severe asthma according to the 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines criteria
We identified an inaccuracy of 65.3% in classifying asthma severity as severe at our hospital
Summary
This article was previously presented as a conference abstract at the 2020 EAACI Congress on June 6, 2020, and the 2020 ERS International Congress on September 5, 2020. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is estimated to affect 300 million people worldwide [1]. It presents major health, social and economic burdens for patients [2]. In 2019, GINA published their latest guidelines [4], which included updates on the treatment of mild asthma. It included the most important change in asthma management in 30 years, which was that all asthma patients must not be placed on shortacting beta2-agonists alone, but they must receive daily dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), to reduce the frequency of exacerbations. GINA classifies asthma severity as: 1) Mild asthma, which can be treated with daily/as-needed low dose ICS-LABA with optional leukotriene receptor
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
