D3.132 - The impact of biological therapy on the quality of life of patients with severe asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction.A proportion of patients,despite intensive treatment,have uncontrolled or partially controlled asthma that affects their quality of life.These patients represent a therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of biological therapy on the quality of life of patients with an emphasis on subjective perception of health, and emotional state.

The study included 31 patients (65% men,35% women) with severe asthma on biological therapy for at least six months. In addition to monitoring FVC,FEV1,FENO and eosinophil count before and after therapy,they completed the Asthma Control Test(ACT),Short Form Health Questionnaire(SF-36),Personal Well-being Index(PWI) and Positivity Scale Questionnaire(PS).

Biological therapy led to a statistically significant improvement in FEV1 and ACT(p = 0.042; p<0.001),and a decrease in FeNO and eosinophils (p=0.004; p<0.001). 90.32% of subjects discontinued oral corticosteroid therapy, while 9.68% managed to reduce the dose. Analysis of the SF 36 showed a statistically significant improvement in the area of ​​physical functioning (p=0.006) with a reduction in limitations in daily functioning due to physical difficulties(p<0.001), as well as limitations caused by emotional difficulties(p<0.001).The energy and vitality subscale showed an increase (p=0.014), and the psychological health of the subjects improved(p<0.001). In the area of ​​social functioning,there was a slight increase, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.226), which may indicate that aspects of social life change more slowly. Along with the reduction in physical pain (p=0.010), the perception of general health also improved(p=0.001). With the introduction of biological therapy, subjects showed an improvement in PS(p=0.004) as well as PWI (p=0.002), which indicates a significant improvement in the perception of their own well-being and life satisfaction after the therapeutic intervention.

The results confirm that biological therapy, in addition to improving symptom control and lung function, leads to improved physical and emotional functioning, changes the perception of health and vitality, positivity and life satisfaction of patients with severe asthma.