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Kirenga BJ, Chakaya J, Yimer G, Nyale G, Haile T, Muttamba W, Mugenyi L, Katagira W, Worodria W, Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa H, Lugogo N, Joloba M, Mersha TB, Bekele A, Makumbi F, Mekasha A, Green CL, de Jong C, Kamya M, van der Molen T. The burden of severe asthma in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from the African Severe Asthma Project. J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob 2024; 3:100209. [PMID: 38328803 PMCID: PMC10847773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Severe asthma is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization, but its burden in Africa is unknown. Objective We sought to determine the burden (prevalence, mortality, and activity and work impairment) of severe asthma in 3 countries in East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Methods Using the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society case definition of severe asthma, we analyzed for the prevalence of severe asthma (requiring Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] steps 4-5 asthma medications for the previous year to achieve control) and severe refractory asthma (remains uncontrolled despite treatment with GINA steps 4-5 asthma medications) in a cohort of 1086 asthma patients who had been in care for 12 months and had received all GINA-recommended medications. Asthma control was assessed by the asthma control questionnaire (ACQ). Results Overall, the prevalence of severe asthma and severe refractory asthma was 25.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.1-28.3) and 4.6% (95% CI, 3.5-6.0), respectively. Patients with severe asthma were (nonsevere vs severe vs severe refractory) older (39, 42, 45 years, P = .011), had high skin prick test reactivity (67.1%, 76.0%, 76.0%, P = .004), had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage (81%, 61%, 55.5%, P < .001), had lower quality of life score (129, 127 vs 121, P < .001), and had higher activity impairment (10%, 30%, 50%, P < .001). Factors independently associated with severe asthma were hypertension comorbidity; adjusted odds ratio 2.21 (1.10-4.47), P = .027, high bronchial hyperresponsiveness questionnaire score; adjusted odds ratio 2.16 (1.01-4.61), P = .047 and higher ACQ score at baseline 2.80 (1.55-5.08), P = .001. Conclusion The prevalence of severe asthma in Africa is high and is associated with high morbidity and poor quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J. Kirenga
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jeremiah Chakaya
- Kenya Association of Physicians Against TB and Lung Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Getnet Yimer
- Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - George Nyale
- Kenya Association of Physicians Against TB and Lung Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
- Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tewodros Haile
- Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Winters Muttamba
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Division of Infection and Global Health, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Levicatus Mugenyi
- Makerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Njira Lugogo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
| | - Moses Joloba
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tesfaye B. Mersha
- Division of Asthma Research, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Amsalu Bekele
- Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fred Makumbi
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Amha Mekasha
- Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Cynthia L. Green
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Corina de Jong
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, GRIAC-Primary Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Moses Kamya
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Thys van der Molen
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, GRIAC-Primary Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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