Profile of mild/moderate asthma patients: Baseline data from the MANI cohort

Although 90% of asthmatic patients suffer from mild and moderate disease, little is known about the burden on health status and quality of life, the long-term trajectory of disease severity, and the socio-economic impact. The Mild Moderated Asthma Network of Italy (MANI) is a real-world, cross-sectional, prospective, observational cohort study designed to explore these issues. Here we aimed to provide an identikit of asthmatic patients receiving treatment according to GINA steps 1-4, and enrolled in the centers of excellence participating in the MANI. Among 679 analyzed patients, 63% were female, and the mean age was 50 ± 16 years. Asthma was mild in 15.8% of patients (GINA steps 1-2) and moderate in 84.2% (GINA steps 3-4). The mean age of asthma diagnosis was 34.3 ± 17.7 years, 50% of patients were suffering from allergic rhinitis, and 13% from nasal polyposis. Mean FEV1% was 91.4 ± 19.4%, predicted with a FEV1/FVC ratio of 74.7 ± 11.9. The mean asthma control test value was 21.2 ± 3.73, and AQLQ score was 5.74 ± 1.07. Among the included patients, 17.2% had at least one asthma exacerbation in the previous year, with 14.2% requiring systemic steroids; 6.2% were referred to an emergency room in the year prior to enrollment; 2.2% required an asthma-related hospitalization; and 0.6% had been admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Unscheduled visits were necessary for 3.8% of patients, 6.5% reported ≥5 lost work days due to asthma, and 11.5% declared ≥10 lost days of spare time. About 70% of patients were receiving treatment according to GINA Track 1. Uncontrolled cases constituted 16.7% of patients treated according to GINA steps 1-2, and 26.3% of patients treated according to GINA steps 3-4 were uncontrolled. Compared to patients with mild asthma, those with moderate asthma had more impaired lung function (FEV1% 88.5 ± 18.4 vs 94.4 ± 17.9, p = 0.05; FEV1/FVC 73.0 ± 9.76 vs 79.6 ± 9.56, p > 0.001), exhibited greater need for systemic corticosteroids for treating exacerbations (13.8% vs 2.3%, p = 0.032), and showed greater adherence to therapy (TAI score 50.0 ± 5.66 vs 45.7 ± 8.42, p < 0.001). Overall, mild/moderate asthma exhibited a substantial clinical and care impact. Patients treated with GINA steps 3-4 constituted the vast majority of patients attending specialist centers. A quarter of these patients were uncontrolled, and therefore need re-evaluation or treatment upgrade. Expanding recruitment of the MANI study will allow further phenotyping of these patients.