Risk factors for uncontrolled asthma in a Swedish asthma population – Results from the PRAXIS-study

Background: Asthma control is achieved in low proportion of patients. The aims were to evaluate asthma control, risk factors for uncontrolled asthma and the association of asthma control with quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional study in 2005 with 1675 randomly selected patients with asthma, 18-75 years; 846 from primary and 341 from secondary care, response rate 71%. Data from questionnaires and medical records. The survey included questions about asthma control according to GINA and a QoL-questionnaire, mini-AQLQ, with four domains. A follow-up in 2012 included 750 patients who participated in 2005. Results: Asthma control in 2005 was achieved in 36% of the sample; 38% in primary and 29 % in secondary care. In primary and secondary care 35% and 45% had uncontrolled asthma, respectively. Risk factors for not having controlled asthma were female sex [OR 1.31 (95%CI 1.00 - 1.70)], older age [2.18 (1.28 - 3.73)], lower educational level [1.63 (1.14 - 2.33)] and current smoking [OR 1.68 (1.16 - 2.43)]. Older age and lower educational level remained significantly associated with not having controlled asthma in the stratum of never smokers. Depression was an independent risk factor for not having controlled asthma among men [3.44 (1.12 - 10.54)]. The mini-AQLQ total mean and domain scores were significantly lower in uncontrolled asthma. Data from the follow-up showed that asthma control in 2012 was achieved by 41% compared with 34% in 2005 (p Conclusion: Risk factors for uncontrolled asthma were female sex, older age, low educational level and smoking. Uncontrolled asthma was significantly associated with lower quality of life. Asthma control improved from 2005 to 2012.