Assessment of bronchial asthma management among adult patients in Chest Department of Zagazig University Hospitals in the period (2011–2012)

Abstract

In some countries like Egypt and especially in Sharkia Governorate, many diseases. may be managed by any general practitioner or other specialty other than the presumed one without following international guidelines and this may lead to over or under diagnosis and consequently over or under treatment and even occurrence of complications. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess patients who have been labelled as bronchial asthma regarding: a- how they were diagnosed, b- what treatment have been prescribed to them by their chest physicians and to assess if they follow GINA guidelines or not. Aim of the work: Improve health status of patients and reduce complications from bronchial asthma. Patients and methods: This study was carried out at Chest Department (outpatient sections), Zagazig University Hospital from September 2011 to September 2012 on 220 adult patients labelled and managed as bronchial asthma, 57 males and 163 females with an age range from 18 years old to 50 years old. Their diagnosis was reviewed if it is matched with GINA guidelines or not. Criteria of asthma diagnosis were reviewed through GINA guidelines (2008) [1]. Results: Only a low percentage (12.2%) of asthmatic patients was advised to do PEFR and spirometry. Corticosteroids and β2 agonist were prescribed to all bronchial asthma patients by their chest physicians. As regards antibiotics, they were prescribed to (88.1%), while mucolytics and expectorates were prescribed to (61.8%), and LTRA was described to (33.2%) of bronchial asthma patients. A high percentage (92.3%) of bronchial asthma patients were treated according to GINA guidelines. Conclusion: There is a satisfactory implementation of local and international asthma management guidelines.

Keywords

• Bronchial asthma
• GINA guidelines
• Sharkia Governorate