Real-life retrospective observational study to determine the prevalence and economic burden of severe asthma in Spain

Abstract

Objective: We determined the percentage of patients with severe asthma and exacerbations and evaluated the costs of the disease based on blood eosinophil counts. Methods: A retrospective observational study based on the review of medical records in Spain was carried out. Patients ≥18 years of age requiring care during the years 2014–2015; diagnosed with asthma with at least 2 years of continuous records (at least one year prior to the index date defined as the first asthma medication prescription and at least one year after the index date) were included. Study groups: eosinophil counts <300 cells/μl and ≥300 cells/μl. Main variables: comorbidity, clinical parameters, exacerbations and annual asthma total costs. Results: A total of 268 severe asthmatic patients in Spain were included, representing 6.3% of the asthma population, with 58.6% having eosinophil count ≥300 cells/μl and 41.4% eosinophil count <300 cells/μl. The mean age was 56.1 years (63.4% women). Patients with eosinophilic inflammation (≥300 cells/μl) had lower FEV1 values (54.3% vs. 60.7%; p