Clinical management of asthma in 1999: the Asthma Insights and Reality in Europe (AIRE) study

Asthma management guidelines provide recommendations for the optimum contro l of asthma. This survey assessed the current levels of asthma control as r eported by patients, which partly reflect the extent to which guideline rec ommendations are implemented. Current asthma patients were identified by telephone by screening 73,880 ho useholds in seven European countries. Designated respondents were interview ed on healthcare utilization, symptom severity, activity limitations and as thma control. Current asthma patients were identified in 3,488 households, and 2,803 pati ents (80.4%) completed the survey. Forty-six per cent of patients reported daytime symptoms and 30% reported asthma-related sleep disturbances, at lea st once a week. In the past 12 months, 25% of patients reported an unschedu led urgent care visit, 10% reported one or more emergency room visits and 7 % reported overnight In the past 4 weeks, more patients had used prescripti on quick-relief medication (63%) than inhaled corticosteroids (23%). Patien t perception of asthma control did not match their symptom severity; approx imately 50% of patients reporting severe persistent symptoms also considere d their asthma to be completely or well controlled. The current level of asthma control in Europe falls far short of the goals for longterm asthma management. Patients' perception of asthma control is d ifferent from their actual asthma control.