Comparing hospital admissions, comorbidities, and biomarkers between severe asthma and Gold III-IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Author(s)

Ponte, V, Eduardo ; Mingotti, Cintia B. ^[1] ; Souza-Machado, Carolina ^[2] ; Silva, Jucara N. ^[1] ; Chequi, Lucas ^[1] ; Arbex, Flavio F. ^[3] ; Rocha, Alcides ^[1] ; Cruz, Alvaro A. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Ponte, Eduardo, V, Fac Med Jundial, Dept Internal Med, R Francisco Teles 250, Vila Arens 2, BR-13202550 Jundial - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Bahia, Nursing Sch, Salvador, BA - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Internal Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Bahia, ProAR Fdn, Salvador, BA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL; AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Introduction In spite of difficulties in differentiating asthma from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), physicians should strive for accurate diagnosis because outcomes may be different. Objectives Our aims were to compare the frequency of hospital admissions (HA) between severe asthmatic (SA) and Gold III-IV COPD subjects receiving disease-specific guideline recommended therapy and to depict the frequency of prevalent chronic disorders and the laboratorial profile suggesting allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes. Methods This cross-sectional study comprises one group of SA subjects and another group of Gold III-IV COPD subjects. Subjects answered standard questionnaires, underwent spirometry, and provided a peripheral blood sample. We validated the HA that have occurred during the preceding year by review of the report emitted by the hospital. We detected comorbidities by review of current pharmacological therapies. Results We enrolled 160 SA and 41 Gold III-IV COPD subjects. As compared with Gold III-IV COPD subjects, SA subjects had lower odds of HA (odds ratio {[}OR] 0.19, 95% confidence interval {[}CI] 0.05-0.74) and higher odds of obesity (OR 9.17, 95%CI 2.68-31.37), hypertension (OR 2.54, 95%CI 1.16-5.57), and diabetes mellitus (OR 5.71, 95%CI 1.56-20.85). The frequency of atopic and eosinophilic phenotypes was similar between study groups. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that Gold III-IV COPD subjects had worse outcomes as compared with SA subjects. We also observed that the frequency of atopy and high peripheral blood eosinophil count were similar between study groups. Finally, we exposed aspects of comorbidities related to asthma and COPD that indicate the need of close monitoring the cardiovascular risk in SA subjects above 40 years of age. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/18367-9 - RISK FACTORS FOR RAPID LOSS OF LUNG FUNCTION, IRREVERSIBLE AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION AND REFRACTORY DISEASE IN SUBJECTS WITH ASTHMA
• Grantee: Eduardo Vieira Ponte
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants