Clinical Management of Asthma by Respiratory Specialists versus General Practitioners: Questionnaire Survey Results Over 6 Years

Figures & data

Figure 1 Questionnaire content: the questionnaire was originally written in Japanese. Copyright 2002 by QualityMetric Incorporated. Asthma Control Test is a trademark of QualityMetric Incorporated. GSK. Asthma Control Test. Available from:  https://www.asthmacontroltest.com/en-au/welcome/.¹⁸

Table 1 Outline of Questionnaire

Survey Year	2006	2009	2012
Number of participating facilities	51	50	56
Number of patient questionnaires	664	813	682
Sex, male/female	312/352	380/433	321/361
Median age (range), years	68 (15–100)	69 (15–94)	70 (15–97)
Number of RSs/GPs	268/396	411/402	280/402

Abbreviations: RS, respiratory specialist; GP, general practitioner.

Table 2 Non-ICS Asthma Medications

(A) RS Group
Survey Year (Total Number of Patients)	2006 (n=268)		2009 (n=411)		2012 (n=280)
Median age (range), years	63 (15–100)		63 (15–89)		64 (15–97)
Sex, male/female	126/142		187/224		127/153
Theophylline (%)	40.3		29.0		21.8
LABA, including combinations with ICS, (%)	42.5		59.9		73.2
LTRA (%)	45.1		38.0		32.5
Anti-allergic agents (%)	9.1		3.2		11.8
LAMA (%)	4.5		12.2		13.2
(B) GP Group
Survey Year (Total Number of Patients)	2006 (n=396)		2009 (n=402)		2012 (n=402)
Median age (range), years	72 (16–99)		74 (16–94)		73 (20–96)
Sex, male/female	186/210		193/209		194/208
Theophylline (%)	54.3		46.0		32.1
LABA, including combinations with ICS, (%)	21.5		47.3		62.7
LTRA (%)	26.0		37.3		25.9
Anti-allergic agents (%)	10.9		9.2		4.0
LAMA (%)	4.0		2.7		9.2

Abbreviations: RS, respiratory specialist; GP, general practitioner; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β₂ agonist; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; LAMA, long-acting antimuscarinic agent.

Figure 2 Inhaled corticosteroid use.

Notes: *P˂0.05, **P˂0.01.

 2006

 2009

 2012.

Figure 3 Use of ICS/LABA combination agents.

Notes: (A) 2009, (B) 2012.

 Another LABA.

 Formoterol/budesonide (released in 2010).

 Salmeterol/fluticasone (released in 2007)

Abbreviations: ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LABA, long-acting β₂ agonist.

Figure 4 The rate of the patients with total ACT scores≧20.

Notes: *P<0.05.

 2006

 2009

 2012

Abbreviation: ACT, asthma control test.

Figure 5 Adherence by route of administration.

Notes:

 Inhaled agents.

 Oral agents.

 Transdermal patches.

GSK. Asthma Control Test. Available from: https://www.asthmacontroltest.com/en-au/welcome/. Accessed March 12, 2021.

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