Understanding patient perception of asthma biologic treatment response

<bold>Background:</bold> Patient perception of asthma treatment is rarely captured, and no specific tools exist to measure it. We developed an inhouse severe asthma patient feedback questionnaire (SAPFQ) with visual analogue scales to investigate if patient perception of biologic treatment response differs from clinically measured outcomes. <bold>Methods:</bold> Severe asthma patients completed SAPFQ after a 12-month biologic treatment trial. SAPFQ includes 6 items: patient perception of symptoms, quality of life, hospital admission, corticosteroid use, regular contact with asthma clinical team, and wanting to continue biologics. Agreement between SAPFQ and clinical outcomes including Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6) was assessed using standard descriptive statistics. <bold>Results:</bold> All 42 patients (29 (69%) females, mean age 52.4±14.1 years) given benralizumab 29 (69%), mepolizumab 7 (16.7%), omalizumab 4 (9.5%), or dupilumab 2 (4.8%) completed SAPFQ. Positive treatment response (50% reduction in exacerbations and/or maintenance corticosteroids) was seen in 40 patients (95%). Median exacerbation frequency reduced from 6 (4-9) at baseline to 0 (0-2). Median ACQ reduced from 3.75 (3-4.8) to 2 (1.2-3.3). Good correlation between SAPFQ and ACQ (r=-0.67, p<0.0001), and SAPFQ reported QoL and ACQ (r=-0.68, p<0.0001) was observed. Lower between wanting to continue biologics and ACQ (r=-0.41, p<0.0001). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Exceptional biologic treatment response was seen. Correlation between SAPFQ and ACQ suggests patient perception agreed with clinical measures. Understanding patient perception aids shared decision-making, but standardised tools are needed to measure it. However, a larger study with more treatment non-responders is required to analyse findings further.