Bruce J Kirenga, Jeremiah Chakaya, Getnet Yimer, George Nyale, Tewodros Haile, Winters Muttamba, Levicatus Mugenyi, Winceslaus Katagira, William Worodria, Hellen Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa, Njira Lugogo, Moses Joloba, Tesfaye B Mersha, Amsalu Bekele, Fred Makumbi, Amha Mekasha, Cynthia L Green, Corina de Jong, Moses Kamya, Thys van der Molen
BACKGROUND: Severe asthma is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization, but its burden in Africa is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the burden (prevalence, mortality, and activity and work impairment) of severe asthma in 3 countries in East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. METHODS: Using the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society case definition of severe asthma, we analyzed for the prevalence of severe asthma (requiring Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] steps 4-5 asthma medications for the previous year to achieve control) and severe refractory asthma (remains uncontrolled despite treatment with GINA steps 4-5 asthma medications) in a cohort of 1086 asthma patients who had been in care for 12 months and had received all GINA-recommended medications...
May 2024: J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob