https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-5798
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Abstract
Objectives
To explore asthma control in patients undergoing pharmacotherapy on studies in the last 20 years in Brazil. Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation disease with a high prevalence worldwide. Even with a variety of drug treatment improvements, attaining asthma control is challenging, since it should have a personalized approach. In Brazil, studies on the prevalence of asthma control are scarce and usually from a small sample size.
Data Sources
A systematic review was performed to assess asthma control in Brazilian population. Terms related to “asthma”, “asthma control” and “Brazil” were used in the search strategies in PubMed, BVSalud, Embase and Cochrane Library, including Brazilian Journal of Allergy and Immunology as data sources. A narrative synthesis was performed to report key outcome.
Study Selections
In total, 23 studies were included. Most of them were conducted in the Southeastern and Northeast regions, in a short duration.
Results
Pediatric and non-pediatric population were assessed, with a higher proportion of female. In pediatric population, those with poorly controlled asthma usually had severe or persistent disease. In elderly, an increased asthma severity was found, although proper treatment might be effective. Most studies (70%) also described exacerbations, hospitalizations (48%), quality of life (39%), and emergency visits (30%). Despite heterogeneity of outcomes and population, studies show an important prevalence of uncontrolled asthma even in patients being treated, with better disease control with treatment improvements.
Conclusions
Studies in Brazil have shown that asthma control remains a challenge and there is still a need for improvement on disease management.
Declaration of interest
FJF, JN, ALPP, and PM, are employees of Novartis. MGB, MCB, RWO, and GSJ are employees of IQVIA Brazil who were contracted by Novartis to conduct this systematic review. DCB and MAL declare no conflict of interest.