The burden of adult asthma in a high GDP per capita country: the QASMA study

Abstract

BackgroundAsthma is a major health problem worldwide. Suboptimal asthma care and poor asthma control are common even in developed countries. Qatar has the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world and high per capita health expenditure. No prior study has assessed the burden of adult asthma in this country. ObjectivesTo assess asthma control, patients' level of education about asthma, and level of asthma care in a country with the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world. MethodsA face-to-face, cross-sectional study of 520 adults with physician-diagnosed asthma conducted in various health care facilities in Qatar. ResultsThirty-three percent, 41%, and 26% of patients had uncontrolled, controlled, and partly controlled asthma, respectively. Only 4.9% of patients had previously received a written asthma management plan, 3.5% had a flow meter at home, and 37.2% had a spirometry performed in the previous 5 years. In addition, 42.9% misunderstood the role of reliever and controller medications. Inhaler technique was incorrect in 47% of these patients. There was a significant association between the type of physician practice and level of asthma control, with worst control being at the general practice level. Moreover, 57.3% of patients had at least 1 asthma-related visit to the emergency department in 1 year and 18.7% had more than 3 visits. ConclusionThe very high gross domestic product per capita in Qatar and the high health expenditure per capita do not seem to have led to better asthma care and control. A comprehensive national asthma service improvement program is much needed.