Uncontrolled and Possible Severe Asthma in Denmark

Asthma is a common, chronic disease with a high prevalence in children, adolescents and populations normally fit-to-work. Most asthma patients have a well-controlled disease and thereof a low usage of primary and secondary health care, as well as few sick days. With difficult-to-treat and severe asthma, a much higher health care and sick leave resource usage is seen. Previous studies show that only 1/3rd of patients prescribed high-dose, possibly side effect-laden, medications for difficult-to-treat or possible severe asthma have been seen by a specialist, such as a pulmonologist. Our study aims to identify socioeconomical patterns and describe patients who are in high dosage asthma treatments, without being seen or treated by a specialist. Furthermore, The Investigators wish to investigate the impact of a systematic pulmonary assessment on quality of life, healthcare utilization and social benefit usage in patients with possible severe asthma. The results are meant to provide a dataset to identify weaknesses in asthma treatment on a national level, and to lay a foundation for future quality improvements to asthma care in Denmark.