1.Asthma control and asthma treatment adherence in primary care: results from the prospective, multicentre, non-interventional, observational cohort ASCOPE study in Malaysia
Nor Azila Mohd Isa ; Chang Li Cheng ; Nazrila Hairizan Nasir ; Viknesh Naidu ; Vieshal Raja Gopal ; Anton Kumar Alexander
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):331-337
Introduction: As the first point of contact for those presenting
with asthma symptoms, primary healthcare plays a crucial role
in asthma management. This is a nationwide study of
assessment of asthma symptom control and adherence to
asthma medication among outpatients in public health clinics
in Malaysia.
Methods: This is a prospective, observational multicentre study
(ASCOPE; NCT03804632). Data on asthma control, assessment
of control symptoms, and adherence to treatment were
collected from medical records and interviews of patients. The
level of asthma control was assessed using the Global Initiative
for Asthma (GINA) Assessment of Symptom Control.
Adherence of patient to medication for asthma was assessed
through interview of patients using four questions adapted
from the Malaysian Medication Adherence Scale.
Results: Among the 1011 patients recruited, 416 (41%) had
well controlled asthma, 388 (38%) were partly controlled, and
207 (21%) had uncontrolled asthma. Majority (81%) had mild
asthma and all patients were on asthma medication. Most
patients did not have spirometry data (97%) but underwent
peak flow rate measurements (98%). Poor adherence occurred
at all levels of asthma control but was worst among those with
uncontrolled asthma. This was statistically significant across all
four questions on adherence (p<0.05). For example, more
patients with uncontrolled asthma forgot doses (56%) or
stopped treatment (39%) than those with well-controlled
asthma (44% and 27% respectively).
Conclusions: Among Malaysian primary care patients with
asthma, less than 50% had well-controlled asthma, and low
adherence to treatment was common. More effort is needed to
improve asthma control among patients in Malaysia, including
those with mild asthma.