Benralizumab effectiveness on quality of life of severe eosinophilic asthmatics in real life

Abstract

Severe eosinophilic asthma causes airways hyperresponsiveness, worsening symptoms and decreasing lung function, often forcing to recurrent or maintenance corticosteroids use and deeply conditioning patients quality of life (QoL). The aim of our study was to determine if and how an add-on treatment with benralizumab may improve the QoL of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. 10 outpatients with severe eosinophilic asthma (7 female and 3 male, aged 54±8.8) were added-on with benralizumab and followed-up in our accredited outpatient clinic for severe asthma at 12 and 24 weeks. During each visit, QoL was assessed by Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), EuroQol-visual analogue scales (EQ-VAS) and EuroQol-5Dimensions-3Levels (EQ-3D-5L). Simultaneously with a significant reduction in eosinophilic inflammation, exacerbations, and gaining in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and symptoms control, all the subjects enrolled experienced a marked improvement in AQLQ [from 3.65±0.56 (baseline) to 4.61±0.67 (12 weeks) (p=0.003) and to 5.17±0.87 (24 weeks) (p=0.0002)], that covered all of the four health domains (symptoms perception, activity limitation, emotional function and environmental stimuli) investigated (p Our real life experience confirms the effectiveness of benralizumab as an add-on treatment in restoring patients with severe eosinophilic asthma to a better QoL perception already after 12 weeks of treatment.