The illness burden of severe asthma contrasted to people with mild to moderate asthma: A qualitative study

Abstract

Disabling symptoms of asthma including breathlessness, cough, wheeze and chest tightness largely impact quality of life, however how these symptoms impact people with asthma of different severity levels remains unknown. This study aimed to compare and characterise patient experience of symptoms and their burden, quality of life, and medication preferences of people with severe asthma against those of people with mild/moderate asthma.A multisite qualitative study involving two focus group and semi-structured interviews of adults with severe asthma were undertaken in Australia and UK. Interview were also undertaken in people with mild to moderate asthma. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed thematically.Participants in both groups had a mean±sdage of 57+12 years. Between groups, 74% of participants were female and 81% lived with family. Themes were identified: 1) what is asthma and most bothersome symptoms: both groups reported breathlessness as the most bothersome symptom; 2) Impacts on life: disease related impact differed as people with severe asthma reported significant burden in their quality of life; 3) personalised and responsive care: severe asthma interviewees preferred injectable biologic therapy as a mode of treatment administration.People with asthma are burdened by breathlessness and cough and other disabling symptoms resulting in impaired quality of life. Understanding the experiences of people with asthma of different severities can improve patient-clinician partnership.