Baseline pulmonary function in patients with Severe Asthma in Spain according to biological treatment use: BREATHE study

<bold>Background:</bold> An increasing number of treatment (Tx) options have recently become available for patients with severe asthma (SA), but there is still a paucity of data on disease characterization and burden, especially in those receiving biologics (Bx). <bold>Methods:</bold> BREATHE is an observational, multicenter, ambispective study aiming to describe the characteristics of patients with SA in Spain as well as their follow-up and disease burden. This analysis presents information from the index visit and the 12 months retrospective period. Baseline pulmonary function parameters of patients, according to Bx Tx, are presented with the corresponding descriptive statistics. Bx Tx, during the retrospective period, was defined as follows: - Bx group: patients receiving Bx Tx for a minimum of 4 months. - Non-Bx group: patients not receiving Bx Tx or patients who did not receive Bx Tx for at least 4 months. <bold>Results:</bold> 325 patients were included, 144 (44.3%) in the non-Bx group, and 181 (55.6%) in the Bx group. Baseline pulmonary function looks similar among groups, with no or small apparent differences in terms of FEV₁, FVC or PEF. Patients in the non-Bx group reported more severe exacerbations, lower asthma control by ACT and higher blood eosinophil count, respectively versus patients in the Bx group (Table 1). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Despite a normal range of baseline pulmonary function and low exacerbation counts, a high percentage of patients do not achieve good asthma control. There is room for improvement in patients with severe asthma in Spain, especially in those not receiving Bx.