Dataset Information

Continued loss of asthma control following epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

ABSTRACT: Background:Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) severely affected Melbourne, Australia in November 2016. There is scant literature on the natural history of individuals affected by ETSA. Objective:A multicentre 12-month prospective observational study was conducted assessing symptomatology and behaviors of ETSA-affected individuals. Methods:We used a structured phone questionnaire to assess asthma symptom frequency, inhaled preventer use, asthma action plan ownership and healthcare utilization over 12 months since the ETSA. Analysis of results included subgroup analyses of the "current," "past," "probable," and "no asthma" subgroups defined according to their original 2016 survey responses. Results:Four hundred forty-two questionnaires were analyzed. Eighty percent of individuals reported ongoing asthma symptoms at follow-up, of which 28% were affected by asthma symptoms at least once a week. Risk of persistent asthma symptoms was significantly higher in those with prior asthma diagnosis, current asthma, and probable undiagnosed asthma (all p < 0.01). Of 442 respondents, 53% were prescribed inhaled preventers, of which 51% were adherent at least 5 days a week. Forty-two percent had a written asthma action plan and 16% had sought urgent medical attention for asthma in the preceding year. Conclusions:Following an episode of ETSA, patients experience a pivotal change in asthma trajectory with both loss of asthma control and persistence of de novo asthma. Suboptimal rates of inhaled preventer adherence and asthma action plan ownership may contribute to asthma exacerbation risk and susceptibility to future ETSA episodes. Longer-term follow-up is needed to determine the extent and severity of this apparent change.

SUBMITTER: Foo CT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6826110 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Continued loss of asthma control following epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

Foo Chuan T CT Yee Ellen Ly EL Young Alan A Denton Eve E Hew Mark M O'Hehir Robyn E RE Radhakrishna Naghmeh N Matthews Sarah S Conron Matthew M Harun Nur-Shirin NS Lachapelle Philippe P Douglass Jo Anne JA Irving Louis L Lee Joy J Stevenson Wendy W McDonald Christine F CF Langton David D Banks Ceri C Thien Francis F

Asia Pacific allergy 20191017 4

<h4>Background</h4>Epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) severely affected Melbourne, Australia in November 2016. There is scant literature on the natural history of individuals affected by ETSA.<h4>Objective</h4>A multicentre 12-month prospective observational study was conducted assessing symptomatology and behaviors of ETSA-affected individuals.<h4>Methods</h4>We used a structured phone questionnaire to assess asthma symptom frequency, inhaled preventer use, asthma action plan ownership and hea ...[more]

PMID: 31720246

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThe world's most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event (ETSA) affected Melbourne in 2016. Little is known about the natural history of individuals affected by such extreme events.ObjectiveIn this single center prospective 3-year longitudinal study, symptomatology and behaviors of individuals affected by ETSA were assessed.MethodsStandardized telephone questionnaire was used to evaluate frequency of asthma symptoms, inhaled corticosteroid preventer use, asthma action plan ownership, and healthcare utilization. Questionnaires were administered at 12, 24, and 36 months after 2016 ETSA. Subgroup analyses of the 'current', 'past', 'possible,' and 'no asthma' subgroups were also conducted.ResultsTwo hundred and eight, 164, and 112 completed questionnaires were analyzed in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. Seventy to eighty five percent of respondents reported ongoing asthma symptoms in any given year, of which 20%-28% experienced weekly symptoms. Nearly 50% of respondents were prescribed preventers, with approximately 45% adherent at least 5 days a week. Less than 40% had an asthma action plan and 15%-20% sought urgent medical attention for asthma over the follow-up period. Among 106 individuals with 3 consecutive years of completed questionnaires, those with no prior doctor diagnosis of asthma were significantly more likely to be asymptomatic on follow-up than those with a prior doctor diagnosis of asthma (p = 0.02). Subgroup analyses suggest that large proportions of respondents with 'past' and 'no asthma' continue to remain symptomatic throughout the 36-month period.ConclusionIn individuals affected by ETSA, we found evidence of ongoing loss of asthma control in those with previously well controlled asthma, and the persistence of symptoms suggestive of asthma in those with no history or symptoms suggestive of prior asthma, even after 36 months from initial ETSA. Low rates of inhaler adherence and asthma action plan ownership may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality from future ETSA events. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Dataset Information

Continued loss of asthma control following epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

Publications

Continued loss of asthma control following epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets