Chipps BE, et al. – Analysts tried to ascertain the long–term natural history of disease and outcomes in patients in TENOR I, after more than a decade. Longitudinal data was given by TENOR II to characterize disease progression, heterogeneity and severity in severe/difficult–to–treat asthma. In this study, results demonstrated continued morbidity, including a high degree of comorbid conditions, allergic sensitization, exacerbations and very poorly controlled (VPC) asthma, including reduced lung function.

Methods

• This multicenter, observational study (2001–2004) consisted of 4756 patients with severe/difficult-to-treat asthma.
• Moreover, TENOR II was a follow-up study of TENOR I patients using a single, cross-sectional visit in 2013/2014.
• It was observed that the sites participating in TENOR II originally enrolled 1230 patients in TENOR I.
• Including very poorly controlled (VPC) asthma based on National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines, they evaluated clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Results

• They incorporated a total of 341 (27.7%) patients in TENOR II and were representative of the TENOR I cohort.
• Rhinitis (84.0%), sinusitis (47.8%) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (46.3%) were the most frequent comorbidities.
• 72.7% (21.4%) and 78.2% (20.7%) were mean (SD) percent predicted pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV1.
• For ≥1 allergen-specific IgE, a total of 231/317 (72.9%) tested positive.
• As per the observation, 200 μL (144) was mean (SD) blood eosinophil count.
• They reported asthma exacerbation in eighty-eight (25.8%) patients in the prior 3 months requiring hospital attention and/or oral corticosteroids.
• Data demonstrated VPC asthma in over half (197/339; 58.1%).
• In addition, medication use suggested undertreatment.