Understanding the impact that uncontrolled severe asthma can have on those who live with it, alongside how they manage the condition, is critical in helping to find meaningful solutions that address people’s unmet needs. The Severe Asthma Survey set out to better understand this impact.

Conducted with Carenity, a social network for people living with chronic conditions, and in partnership with Dr. Maureen George, an expert in severe asthma, the Severe Asthma Survey* aimed to generate insights from 200 adults with uncontrolled severe asthma across seven countries, focusing on what motivates them to take steps toward better asthma control. The full results were published in Pulmonary Therapy and we’ve pulled out the key findings and learnings below:

1. The more patients knew about severe asthma, the more confident they were in their ability to achieve long-term control

The survey uncovered that 62% of people with severe asthma believe they know a lot about asthma yet were not entirely satisfied with their level of control. However, the more they knew, the more confident they were in their ability to achieve long-term control. This discrepancy suggests that there is a need for a greater understanding of the practical side of the disease, such as how to better manage and control symptoms in the long term.

2. Education and practical tips are key to achieving better disease management and control

When asked about the most helpful tools in the long-term management of asthma, respondents shared that they would find practical tips on asthma control (76%) and information on asthma and its causes (67%) to be particularly helpful. Asthma education and practical advice should be more readily accessible for all people with asthma. Providing educational materials or spending more time discussing the practical aspects of managing asthma could help bolster the confidence of those with uncontrolled severe asthma in being able to better manage their condition.

3. Shared Decision Making (SDM) is welcomed to achieve long-term control, but conversations must be two-way

78% of survey respondents shared that they had consulted with a specialist about their uncontrolled severe asthma but only 54% participated in Shared Decision Making (SDM). SDM is a joint process where patients and their healthcare providers actively work together toward achieving the best level of care, yet only 29% of those involved in SDM felt that their opinion was considered. However, 48% of those who did not feel confident in controlling their asthma in the long term believed that SDM could help them achieve this.

As SDM requires an honest two-way conversation, both healthcare professionals and patients must be engaged in the process for patients to feel that their needs are attended to. SDM should be more readily used as a tool for patients, their families and healthcare providers and a focus should be placed on it being a true partnership.

Survey conclusions

It is clear from the results of the Severe Asthma Survey that there remain gaps in the management of uncontrolled severe asthma. In order to address these gaps, there is a need for all stakeholders involved in the management of uncontrolled severe asthma – from doctors to policymakers – to focus on education and SDM. Education should be tailored towards general knowledge of the disease and practical tips for managing symptoms, while SDM needs to be a true partnership between doctor and patient to enable a two-way, meaningful dialogue about disease management.

These messages are echoed by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), whose World Asthma Day theme this year focused on ‘Closing Gaps in Asthma Care’ and discussed gaps in communication, education and care provided for people with asthma, highlighting socioeconomic, geographic and professional differences, among many others.

Patients with uncontrolled severe asthma should feel empowered by these results to demand more education and practical tips around their disease management, as well as asking for SDM with their healthcare providers. Share this article and the full report with your doctor or local politician to further support the call for educational materials and SDM to be available to all to help close gaps in asthma care.

*The Severe Asthma Survey was sponsored by Sanofi and Regeneron.

Reference:

1. George M, et al. Patients with Severe Uncontrolled Asthma: Perception of Asthma Control and its Management. Pulmonary Therapy. 2022.