Table 3.

The Impact of Various Barriers to Effective Management of Severe Asthma (Survey Results)

Barriers	Major Consequences
Delay in referral to a center with special expertise in the field of severe asthma	Risk of serious exacerbations
	Decreased quality of life
	Late diagnosis
Incorrect diagnosis	Risk of serious exacerbations
	Decreased quality of life
	Inappropriate treatment
Late diagnosis	Risk of serious exacerbations
	Decreased quality of life
	Disease progression/airway remodeling
	Increased mortality risk
Delay/failure to attend follow-up after receiving first aid treatment	Risk of serious exacerbations
	Inappropriate use of OCS
	Absence of monitoring of the number and severity of exacerbations
Absence of an OCS-use monitoring system	OCS overuse
	Adverse effects related to OCS use
	Delay in using alternative therapies
Lack/poor access to diagnostic tests	Late/incorrect diagnosis
	Inappropriate treatment
	Poor asthma control

Abbreviation: OCS, oral corticosteroids.