The impact of asthma exacerbations on health-related quality of life in moderate to severe asthma patients in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to report the impact of exacerbations on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health utility in patients with moderate to severe asthma (BTS levels 4 & 5) in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective data regarding HRQL were collected (n=112) using the EQ-5D, mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), and Asthma Symptom Utility (ASUI) measures. RESULTS: The mAQLQ, EQ-5D and ASUI were all significantly worse for patients suffering exacerbations (p<0.001) compared to those without. There was also evidence of a further HRQL decrement in those patients who had been admitted to hospital as a result of an exacerbation during the four-week study. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the impact of asthma exacerbations on HRQL in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There was some evidence of floor effects on the mAQLQ and ASUI in their ability to capture the impact of exacerbations. These study data are suitable for use in economic evaluations.