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Background: Asthma is one of the main non-infectious diseases of the respiratory system with substantial economic burden worldwide. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic burden of adult asthma in Cyprus during 2015., Methods: A retrospective probabilistic prevalence-based cost of illness model was developed to calculate the economic burden of asthma including direct and indirect costs. The bottom-up approach (person-based data) was used for the calculation of direct costs while for the calculation of indirect costs the approach of human capital was employed. In addition, bootstrapped sensitivity analysis with 1000 bootstrap simulations was performed in order to calculate a 95% Confidence Interval (CI)., Results: Mean patient cost of asthma in Cyprus in 2015 was estimated at €579.64 (95% CI: €376.90-€813.68). Direct costs accounted for 82.08% of the overall expenses, €475.75 per patient (95% CI: €296.94-€697.69). Indirect costs of €103.89 (95% CI: €49.59-€181.46) accounted for 17.92% of the overall expenses., Conclusion: This was the first study in Cyprus, which used bootstrapped prevalence-based cost of illness model to estimate the cost of asthma. This study confirms that asthma is an expensive disease for the society. In addition, it provides important information and analysis of the economic consequences of asthma to policy makers in order to strengthen surveillance of the disease as well as draft the national health policy accordingly.

The impact of psychiatric illnesses upon asthma patients' functioning is not well understood. This study examined the impact of psychiatric comorbidity upon illness management in asthma patients using empirically-derived psychiatric comorbidity groups. Participants were a clinic sample of Greek-speaking asthma patients (N = 212) assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Somatoform, Depression, Panic Disorder (PD), Other Anxiety Disorder, Eating Disorder (ED) and Alcohol sub-scales. The associations between sub-scales were examined using multiway frequency analysis. The following groups were derived: Somatoform disorder and/or Any Depressive disorder (n = 63), Somatoform disorder and/or Other Anxiety disorder (n = 51), Somatoform disorder and/or Any ED (n = 60), and Any Anxiety group including PD and/or Other Anxiety disorder (n = 24). Across all groups, psychiatric illness was associated with significantly worse asthma control (p < .01). Participants in Any Anxiety group, OR = 4.61, 95% CI [1.90, 11.15], Somatoform and/or Any Depressive disorder, OR = 2.06, 95% CI [1.04, 4.09] and Somatoform and/or Other Anxiety disorder, OR = 2.75, 95% CI [1.35, 5.60] were at higher risk for asthma-related Emergency Room (ER) visits compared to controls. However only Somatoform and/or Any Depressive disorder, OR = 3.67, 95% CI [1.60, 8.72], Somatoform and/or Other Anxiety disorder, OR = 5.50, 95% CI [2.34, 12.74], and Somatoform and/or Any ED, OR = 4.98, 95% CI [2.14, 11.60] group membership were risk factors for asthma-related hospitalizations. Results suggest that while comorbid psychiatric disorders generally negatively impact asthma illness management, different psychiatric comorbidities appear to have disparate effects upon illness management outcomes.

Background: Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized anti-IgE monoclonal antibody indicated as an add-on treatment for severe allergic asthma, inadequately controlled despite high dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting b2-agonists., Objectives: Medical registries were used to evaluate the 4 months, 1 and 4 years effectiveness of omalizumab treatment, in a non-interventional, observational "real-life" study., Methods: Sixty patients with severe persistent allergic asthma from 5 South-Eastern Mediterranean centres from Crete and Cyprus were evaluated. Effectiveness outcomes included spirometry, severe asthma exacerbations rate, level of asthma control (ACT), and additional asthma medication (inhaled steroids)., Results: Outcome variables improved after 4 months and sustained after 1 and 4 years treatment with Omalizumab. FEV1 improved statistically significant at all time points versus baseline [ΔFEV1 (% pred.) = +21 p = 0.008 at 4 months, ΔFEV1 (% pred.) = +24.5 p < 0.0001 at 4 years after treatment]. Similarly, FVC increased statistically significant versus baseline [ΔFVC (% pred.) = +20 p = 0.002 at 4 months, ΔFVC (% pred.) = +22.6 p = 0.0002 at 4 years]. The level of asthma control as evaluated by ACT was significantly improved after treatment (+12% p = 0.001 at 4 months, +24% p < 0.0001 at 4 years). Omalizumab treatment reduced significantly asthma exacerbations rate (-65% p = 0.0002 at 1 year, and -70% p < 0.0001 at 4 years). The use of inhaled steroids decreased statistically significant after 4 months (p = 0.017), 1 year (p = 0.029) and 4 years (p = 0.014) of omalizumab treatment., Conclusions: This long-term "real-life" study demonstrated significant improvement in lung function and other clinical outcomes after omalizumab treatment, evident at 4 months, and sustained after 1 and 4 years suggesting its efficacy in severe allergic asthma, in the "real-life" practice., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of asthma in adults, by gender and age, in urban and rural areas of Cyprus. Patients and Methods: This was a population-based, random-digit dialing, telephone nation-wide survey to recruit patients with asthma. Among 8996 random landline-telephone contacted from the five major urban and rural regions of Cyprus, 1914 were finally met the age criterion of ≥ 18 years old and 572 completed valid screening for prevalence estimation. The participants filled a short screening questionnaire in order for asthma cases to be recognized. Then, asthma cases filled the main ECRHS II questionnaire and were evaluated by a pulmonary physician. All underwent spirometry. Data on demographic characteristics, educational level, profession, smoking status, Body Mass Index (BMI), Total IgE and Eosinophil Cationic Protein levels were measured. Results: The overall prevalence of bronchial asthma in adults in Cyprus was 5.57% (61.1% men and 38.9% women). Among the participants with self-reported bronchial asthma 36.1% were current smokers, while 12.3% were obese (BMI > 30). A total value of IgE > 115 IU and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) > 20 IU was found in 40% of the participants with established bronchial asthma. Wheezing and chest tightness were the most frequently reported symptoms in asthma patients (36.1% and 34.5%, respectively), while 36.5% experienced at least one exacerbation during the last year. Interestingly, most of the patients were under-treated (14.2% were on maintenance asthma treatment, and 18% used solely reliever medication). Conclusion: This was the first study estimating asthma prevalence in Cyprus. Asthma affects almost 6% of the adult population, with higher prevalence in urban areas and in men compared to women. Interestingly, one-third of the patients were uncontrolled and under-treated. This study revealed that in Cyprus there is space for improvement in the management of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]