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The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on severe asthma care in Europe: Will care change for good?

Eger, K. ; Aronsson, D. LU ; Egesten, A. LU ; Munir, A.K.M. and Hyland, M. (2022) In ERJ open research 8(2).
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put pressure on healthcare services, forcing the reorganisation of traditional care pathways. We investigated how physicians taking care of severe asthma patients in Europe reorganised care, and how these changes affected patient satisfaction, asthma control and future care. Methods In this European-wide cross-sectional study, patient surveys were sent to patients with a physician-diagnosis of severe asthma, and physician surveys to severe asthma specialists between November 2020 and May 2021. Results 1101 patients and 268 physicians from 16 European countries contributed to the study. Common physician-reported changes in severe asthma care included use of video/phone... (More)
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put pressure on healthcare services, forcing the reorganisation of traditional care pathways. We investigated how physicians taking care of severe asthma patients in Europe reorganised care, and how these changes affected patient satisfaction, asthma control and future care. Methods In this European-wide cross-sectional study, patient surveys were sent to patients with a physician-diagnosis of severe asthma, and physician surveys to severe asthma specialists between November 2020 and May 2021. Results 1101 patients and 268 physicians from 16 European countries contributed to the study. Common physician-reported changes in severe asthma care included use of video/phone consultations (46%), reduced availability of physicians (43%) and change to home-administered biologics (38%). Change to phone/video consultations was reported in 45% of patients, of whom 79% were satisfied or very satisfied with this change. Of 709 patients on biologics, 24% experienced changes in biologic care, of whom 92% were changed to home-administered biologics and of these 62% were satisfied or very satisfied with this change. Only 2% reported worsening asthma symptoms associated with changes in biologic care. Many physicians expect continued implementation of video/phone consultations (41%) and home administration of biologics (52%). Conclusions Change to video/phone consultations and home administration of biologics was common in severe asthma care during the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with high satisfaction levels in most but not all cases. Many physicians expect these changes to continue in future severe asthma care, though satisfaction levels may change after the pandemic. © The authors 2022. (Less)
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author collaboration
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ERJ open research
volume
8
issue
2
article number
00065-2022
publisher
European Respiratory Society
external identifiers
  • scopus:85134082717
  • pmid:35582679
ISSN
2312-0541
DOI
10.1183/23120541.00065-2022
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
81ccace3-d3d8-402b-8a7c-38a656a75127
date added to LUP
2022-09-14 15:54:42
date last changed
2022-09-15 03:00:03
@article{81ccace3-d3d8-402b-8a7c-38a656a75127,
  abstract     = {{Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put pressure on healthcare services, forcing the reorganisation of traditional care pathways. We investigated how physicians taking care of severe asthma patients in Europe reorganised care, and how these changes affected patient satisfaction, asthma control and future care. Methods In this European-wide cross-sectional study, patient surveys were sent to patients with a physician-diagnosis of severe asthma, and physician surveys to severe asthma specialists between November 2020 and May 2021. Results 1101 patients and 268 physicians from 16 European countries contributed to the study. Common physician-reported changes in severe asthma care included use of video/phone consultations (46%), reduced availability of physicians (43%) and change to home-administered biologics (38%). Change to phone/video consultations was reported in 45% of patients, of whom 79% were satisfied or very satisfied with this change. Of 709 patients on biologics, 24% experienced changes in biologic care, of whom 92% were changed to home-administered biologics and of these 62% were satisfied or very satisfied with this change. Only 2% reported worsening asthma symptoms associated with changes in biologic care. Many physicians expect continued implementation of video/phone consultations (41%) and home administration of biologics (52%). Conclusions Change to video/phone consultations and home administration of biologics was common in severe asthma care during the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with high satisfaction levels in most but not all cases. Many physicians expect these changes to continue in future severe asthma care, though satisfaction levels may change after the pandemic. © The authors 2022.}},
  author       = {{Eger, K. and Aronsson, D. and Egesten, A. and Munir, A.K.M. and Hyland, M.}},
  issn         = {{2312-0541}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{European Respiratory Society}},
  series       = {{ERJ open research}},
  title        = {{The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on severe asthma care in Europe: Will care change for good?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00065-2022}},
  doi          = {{10.1183/23120541.00065-2022}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}