Characteristics of patients with severe asthma reported to be eligible or non-eligible for biologic therapy in Poland: results from the international observational study RECOGNISE.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze characteristics of real-world patients with severe asthma in Poland and identify factors determining clinicians' opinion on the eligibility for biologics.

Methods: In this retrospective, multi-national, single-visit study (NCT03629782), investigators were asked whether the patient might benefit from a referral for further clinical assessment and potentially biologic therapy. Asthma exacerbations and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in the last 12 months were documented by the investigators. Patient-reported outcomes included St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6).

Results: Of 1025 patients, 146 were enrolled in Poland. Investigators considered 77.4% of patients eligible for biologics and 22.6% non-eligible. Patients considered eligible were diagnosed at younger age than non-eligible (median 39 vs 45 years; p=0.0113) and more frequently had a history of atopy (46% vs 21.2%; p=0.0106). Eligible patients had a higher frequency (93.8% vs 66.7%, p<0.0001) and number of exacerbations (median 2 vs 1, p=0.0003). Among eligible patients, 81.4% and among non-eligible, 66.7% had not well-controlled asthma; long-term oral corticosteroids were used by 46.0% and 51.5%, respectively. Short-term corticosteroid use was more frequent in biologics-eligible than in non-eligible patients (82.3% vs 48.5%, p<0.0001). Patients eligible for biologics had a higher median SGRQ total score (64.7 vs 48.4; p=0.0075) and HRCU (63.7% vs 9.1%; p<0.0001).

Conclusions: In Poland, 3 in 4 patients with severe asthma are recognized by clinicians as potential candidates for biologics. However, eligibility is not associated with long-term oral corticosteroid use, highlighting the need to better inform the physicians about the benefits of biologic therapy.