Characterization of low adherence population in asthma patients from Japan using Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12

Abstract

Background: Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12 (ASK-12) is a useful indicator of drug adherence. In this study, we analyzed patient background including social and psychological factors in a low-adherence group of patients with asthma defined using ASK-12. Methods: From a questionnaire survey for patients with asthma from the Niigata Prefecture, Japan, conducted in the fall of 2016, we enrolled patients who answered all ASK-12 items and underwent a measured respiratory function test within 1 year. The low-adherence group (ASK-12 ≥ 28) was compared with the control group (ASK-12 5) were independent factors for the low-adherence group. The cluster analysis identified three clusters in the low-adherence group. Among these, one cluster was characterized by elderly males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and another by middle-aged nonsmoking females with a depression tendency, had problems with asthma control. Conclusions: Several factors were considered to be attributed to low drug-adherence. There were several phenotypes in the low-adherence population correlated with incomplete asthma control. Intervention with drug adherence should be a future goal for asthma treatment. Keywords: Bronchial asthma, Adherence starts with Knowledge-12 (ASK-12), Questionnaire survey, Depression status, Working status