Real-World Evidence of Administration of Biologic Agents in Patients with Severe Asthma: An Analysis of the Respiratory Department of University Hospital of Patras Asthma Registry

<b>Background:</b> Real-world data on currently used biologic agents in patients with severe asthma are lacking. <b>Methods:</b> In this retrospective study, we recorded between 16 May 2020 and 31 December 2024 consecutive patients who presented to our asthma outpatient clinic received a diagnosis of uncontrolled severe asthma and were treated with biologic agents. Outcomes included a comparison of disease phenotypic characteristics, as well as asthma control, lung function, longitudinal use of corticosteroids, and hospitalizations due to exacerbations at baseline and post-biologic treatment at 6-month follow-up. <b>Results:</b> We identified 80 patients with uncontrolled severe asthma treated with biologic agents. The median age (95% CI) at the time of diagnosis was 67.0 (61.0 to 70.0) years. Most patients were female (65.0%, n = 52) and never smokers (51.3%, n = 41). The median value of ACT (95% CI) was 15 (15 to 16) at the time of diagnosis. The mean FEV<sub>1</sub>% predicted ±SD at the baseline was 68.9 ± 22.0. The median value of blood eosinophils (95% CI) was 365 (252 to 448) K/μL in the overall population. One-third (36.3%) of patients were hospitalized due to severe asthma exacerbation in the previous year. Longitudinal use of oral corticosteroids was recorded in 11.3% of included patients. Three patients (3.8%) were treated with omalizumab, 23 patients (28.8%) with mepolizumab, 33 patients (41.2%) with benralizumab and 21 patients (26.2%) with tezepelumab. The median value of ACT (95% CI) post-biologic treatment at 6-month follow-up was 20 (20 to 21), <i>p</i> < 0.0001. The mean FEV<sub>1</sub>% predicted ±SD at 6-month follow-up was 77.6 ± 25.2, <i>p</i> = 0.12. The median value of blood eosinophils (95% CI) 6 months after initiation of biologic treatment was 100 (40 to 121) K/μL, <i>p</i> < 0.0001. Elimination of hospitalizations due to asthma flares was recorded in 97.5% of patients (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). With regard to the longitudinal use of oral corticosteroids, we noticed that 96.2% of patients achieved discontinuation. No treatment-related adverse events were noticed. <b>Conclusions:</b> The administration of current biologic agents in patients with severe asthma seems to be both effective and safe, sparing the toxicity of oral corticosteroids.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-03-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072174
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Asthma and respiratory diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.33

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article

Real-World Evidence of Administration of Biologic Agents in Patients with Severe Asthma: An Analysis of the Respiratory Department of University Hospital of Patras Asthma Registry

Dimosthenis Lykouras, Fotios Sampsonas, Argyrios Tzouvelekis, Vasilina Sotiropoulou et al.
2 citations
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Asthma and respiratory diseases
2.33
article

Real-World Evidence of Administration of Biologic Agents in Patients with Severe Asthma: An Analysis of the Respiratory Department of University Hospital of Patras Asthma Registry

Dimosthenis Lykouras, Fotios Sampsonas, Argyrios Tzouvelekis, Vasilina Sotiropoulou, Ουρανία Παπαϊωάννου, Kyriakos Karkoulias, Dimitrios Komninos, Dionysios Papalexatos, Panagiota Tsiri, Ioannis Christopoulos, Eva Theohari, Antonios Christopoulos
article en
2 citations

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Real-world data on currently used biologic agents in patients with severe asthma are lacking. <b>Methods:</b> In this retrospective study, we recorded between 16 May 2020 and 31 December 2024 consecutive patients who presented to our asthma outpatient clinic received a diagnosis of uncontrolled severe asthma and were treated with biologic agents. Outcomes included a comparison of disease phenotypic characteristics, as well as asthma control, lung function, longitudinal use of corticosteroids, and hospitalizations due to exacerbations at baseline and post-biologic treatment at 6-month follow-up. <b>Results:</b> We identified 80 patients with uncontrolled severe asthma treated with biologic agents. The median age (95% CI) at the time of diagnosis was 67.0 (61.0 to 70.0) years. Most patients were female (65.0%, n = 52) and never smokers (51.3%, n = 41). The median value of ACT (95% CI) was 15 (15 to 16) at the time of diagnosis. The mean FEV<sub>1</sub>% predicted ±SD at the baseline was 68.9 ± 22.0. The median value of blood eosinophils (95% CI) was 365 (252 to 448) K/μL in the overall population. One-third (36.3%) of patients were hospitalized due to severe asthma exacerbation in the previous year. Longitudinal use of oral corticosteroids was recorded in 11.3% of included patients. Three patients (3.8%) were treated with omalizumab, 23 patients (28.8%) with mepolizumab, 33 patients (41.2%) with benralizumab and 21 patients (26.2%) with tezepelumab. The median value of ACT (95% CI) post-biologic treatment at 6-month follow-up was 20 (20 to 21), <i>p</i> < 0.0001. The mean FEV<sub>1</sub>% predicted ±SD at 6-month follow-up was 77.6 ± 25.2, <i>p</i> = 0.12. The median value of blood eosinophils (95% CI) 6 months after initiation of biologic treatment was 100 (40 to 121) K/μL, <i>p</i> < 0.0001. Elimination of hospitalizations due to asthma flares was recorded in 97.5% of patients (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). With regard to the longitudinal use of oral corticosteroids, we noticed that 96.2% of patients achieved discontinuation. No treatment-related adverse events were noticed. <b>Conclusions:</b> The administration of current biologic agents in patients with severe asthma seems to be both effective and safe, sparing the toxicity of oral corticosteroids.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(7)
General University Hospital of Patras (GR)
University of Patras
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Asthma and respiratory diseases
2.33
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