The illness burden of severe asthma contrasted to people with mild-to-moderate asthma: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Disabling symptoms of asthma including breathlessness, cough, wheeze and chest tightness largely impact quality of life; however, how these symptoms impact people with asthma of different severity levels remains unknown. This study aimed to compare and characterise patients' symptom experience and the burden caused, their quality of life, and the medication preferences of people with severe asthma against those of people with mild-to-moderate asthma. Methods This was a multisite qualitative study involving two focus groups and semistructured interviews of adults with severe asthma undertaken in Australia and UK. Interviews were also undertaken in people with mild-to-moderate asthma. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed thematically. Results Participants in both severe asthma and mild-to-moderate asthma groups had a mean±sd age of 57±12 years. Between the severe asthma and mild-to-moderate asthma groups, 62% of participants were female and 86% lived with family. Themes were identified: 1) what is asthma and most bothersome symptoms: both groups reported breathlessness as the most bothersome symptom; 2) impacts on life: disease-related impact differed as people with severe asthma reported significant burden in their quality of life, which encompassed emotional, physical, social and financial wellbeing; and 3) personalised and responsive care: severe asthma interviewees preferred injectable biological therapy as a mode of treatment administration. Conclusions People with asthma are burdened by breathlessness and cough and other disabling symptoms resulting in impaired quality of life. Understanding the experiences of people with asthma of different severities can improve the patient–clinician partnership.