Disease Burden and Treatment Patterns among Patients with Asthma in China

Introduction: Information on demographics and disease burden for patients with asthma on GINA 4/5 therapies in China is limited. Aims: To describe patient and disease characteristics and treatment patterns. Methods: The Adelphi Respiratory Disease Specific Programme was a point-in-time survey completed Aug–Dec 2018. Patient inclusion was by a consecutive sample of each of the 230 physician’s next 3–4 consulting adult patients with physician-confirmed asthma and next 2 with physician-perceived severe asthma (oversample). Results: 754 GINA 4/5–treated patients with asthma (448 consecutive; 306 oversample) from 8 regions included. Mean (SD) age: 45.6 (14.2) years, 52% female, 5% current smokers and 23% ex-smokers (n=753). 92% were receiving GINA 4 treatment. Physician-perceived asthma severity (n=752) was mild (31%), moderate (32%) or severe (36%); 69% had ATS/ERS defined uncontrolled asthma. Top three symptoms (past 4 weeks; n=748): shortness of breath during exertion (65%), productive cough (62%) and trigger exposed shortness of breath (55%). Most common comorbidities: allergic rhinitis (53%), hypertension (21%) and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (14%). In the prior year, 72% (145/202) had FEV1%pred 50–79%; 27% (204/754) had ≥1 severe exacerbation. For patients who had an eosinophil (EOS) measurement, 83% (323/388) had data in the prior year; 61% (102/167) had EOS count ≥300 cells/µL. Treatments prescribed most often: ICS/LABA+LTRA (46%), ICS/LABA only (27%), ICS/LABA+LAMA (9%) and maintenance OCS (8%). Conclusion: In China, GINA 4/5–treated asthma was associated with considerable symptom burden and exacerbation frequency; most patients remain uncontrolled. Funding: GSK (214911)