ASTHMA MANAGEMENT AT PRIMARY CARE LEVEL: SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 3305 PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA DIAGNOSED BY A FAMILY PHYSICIAN

The goal of this epidemiological study was to assess the symptoms, changes in spirometric parameters, and the type of therapy used in 3305 patients (55.5% women and 44.5% men; mean age 48.3 +/- 15.9 years) in whom bronchial asthma was diagnosed by a family physician. The study was carried out with a questionnaire sent to both patients and their physicians. All patients were asked about the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms, smoking habits, and the source of the knowledge on their disease. Physicians gave information concerning the diagnosis and classification of asthma as well as its treatment. In all patients spirometric measurements were performed. The results of the survey indicate that the symptoms of asthma were seen relatively often in the examined cohort of patients, about 20% of them complained of everyday ailments. On the other hand, about 30% of the patients did not report any symptoms. Over 50% of the patients were exposed to tobacco smoke. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids were regularly used by 83% of the patients. We conclude that in the Polish population of asthmatic patients the management of symptoms still falls short of the internationally set guidelines.