Mild/moderate asthma network of Italy (MANI): first data.

<bold>Background:</bold> Many asthmatics experience mild to moderate symptoms, yet the extent of its impact on quality of life, exacerbations, lung function, and corticosteroid use remains unclear. The Mild/Moderate Asthma Network of Italy (MANI) is conducting a study to analyze the clinical course through a cluster-based, real-world, cross-sectional, and prospective observational approach. <bold>Methods:</bold> A descriptive analysis of the initial 700 patients enrolled was conducted to evaluate the proportion of mild and moderate cases, their level of control, and their demographic and clinical features. <bold>Results:</bold> Most of the sample comprised women (62.7%) with average age of 50. The mean FEV1% was 91.4, with a mean ACT of 21.1. About half (50.4%) suffered from rhinitis, while 13% had nasal polyposis. In the year prior to enrollment, 6.2% had ED accesses, and exacerbations were noted in 17.2% of patients, with 14.2% needing oral steroid use. Regarding treatment according to GINA steps, 15.3% were on Steps 1/2, 81.7% on Steps 3/4, and 3% on Step 5 drugs. Among Step 1-2 patients, 16.7% were uncontrolled (ACT<20), otherwise for step 3-4 patients, the uncontrolled ones were 26.3%. Comparison between controlled and uncontrolled patients in Step 3-4 revealed higher upper airways burden in uncontrolled patients (CRSsNP 20.8%vs3.1%, p<0.001; rhinitis VAS 5.06vs3.31, p=0.008, moderate persistent rhinitis 40.7%vs18.4%, p=0.046). Uncontrolled patients had lower AQLQ (4.45vs6.01, p>0.001) with more unscheduled visits (10%vs0.8%, p=0.002), increased systemic steroid use (20.8%vs8.8%, p=0.03, elevated IgE values (564vs238, p=0.012), and lower FEV1% (83.1%vs88.9% of predicted, p=0.05). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> MANI is poised to offer valuable insights into mild moderate asthma.