Table 2.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who qualified for the NHF omalizumab (OMA) treatment program
| Patients in the program | All (n = 53) |
|---|---|
| Age, years | |
| Mean ± SD | 45.8 ± 15.3 |
| Min/Max | 16/78 |
| Men, n(%) | 20(38 %) |
| Occupational status, n (%) | |
| Occupational activity | 23 (43 %) |
| Sickness pension | 7 (13 %) |
| Duration of severe asthma, years | |
| Mean ± SD | 13 ± 10.8 |
| Median | 10 |
| Min/Max | 1/52 |
| Allergy, n (%) | |
| Dust mites | 50 (94 %) |
| Moulds | 19 (36 %) |
| Cat | 36 (68 %) |
| Dog | 23 (43 %) |
| Other animals | 12 (23 %) |
| Serum tIgE, IU/ml | |
| Mean ± SD | 251 ± 219 |
| Median | 174 |
| Min/Max | 30/922 |
| N ≥ 76 IU/ml, n (%) | 40 (76 %) |
| ICS dose, mcg/day | |
| Mean ± SD | 2912 ± 1262 |
| Median | 2500 |
| Min/Max | 1500/8500 |
| OCS dose, mg/day | |
| Regularly useda, n (%) | 38 (72 %) |
| Mean | 16 ± 12.6 |
| Median | 10 |
| Min/Max | 0/50 |
| Complications after OCS, n (%) | 30 (57 %) |
| Arterial hypertension | 10 (19 %) |
| Diabetes | 8 (15 %) |
| Osteoporosis | 7 (13 %) |
| Cataract | 3 (6 %) |
| Glaucoma | 2 (4 %) |
| Cushingoid appearance | 9 (17 %) |
| Adrenocortical insufficiency | 1 (2 %) |
| Other | 4 (8 %) |
| Additional control drugs, n (%) | |
| LABA | 47 (89 %) |
| LTRA | 39 (74 %) |
| SAMA/LAMA | 16 (30 %) |
| Theophylline | 12 (23 %) |
| Severe exacerbations/year, n | |
| Min 3, n (%) | 53 (100 %) |
| Mean ± SD | 5.6 ± 4 |
| Median | 4 |
| Min/Max | 3/24 |
| Hospitalizations in the preceding year, n (%) | 24 (45 %) |
| Life-threatening asthma, n (%) | 23 (43 %) |
| ACQ points | |
| Mean ± SD | 3.3 ± 1.1 |
| Median | 3.4 |
| Min/Max | 1.6/5.4 |
| AQLQ points | |
| Mean ± SD | 3.4 ± 1.2 |
| Median | 3 |
| Min/Max | 1.6/6.5 |
| FEV1% within normal limits | |
| Mean ± SD | 64.6 ± 26.1 |
| Median | 59 |
| Min/Max | 23/136 |
Abbreviations: ACQ asthma control questionnaire, AQLQ asthma quality of life questionnaire, BDP-CFC inhaled beclomethasone CFC, tIgE total immunoglobulin E levels, FEV1 forced expired volume in one second, ICS inhaled corticosteroid, LABA long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist, LAMA long-acting muscarinic antagonist, OCS oral corticosteroid, SAMA short-acting muscarinic antagonist, SD standard deviation
aContinuous intake of at least 6 months