Characteristics of patients with severe asthma in primary and secondary care settings considered eligible for biological therapy - the Bulgarian RECOGNISE study

Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2023 Jun 30;65(3):434-446. doi: 10.3897/folmed.65.e94233.

Abstract

Asthma is a major non-communicable disease. It affects both children and adults, but is the most common chronic condition among the former. While inhaled controller drugs stabilize the disease in most asthma patients, there are a certain number of people who suffer from severe asthma, which requires treatment escalation. Oral corticosteroids are usually added, but they are associated with various side effects that may limit their application. The introduction of biologicals targeting inflammatory mediators has opened a new era of asthma treatment highlighting the importance of patient characterization.

Keywords: asthma specialist biological therapy eligibility severe asthma.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Biological Therapy
  • Bulgaria
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Secondary Care

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones