Korean J Med.
2018 Apr;93(2):159-171. 10.3904/kjm.2018.93.2.159.
Treatment of Severe Asthma
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea. ddol1996@hanmail.net
- KMID: 2435180
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2018.93.2.159
Abstract
- Severe asthma represents 3-10% of all cases of asthma, but accounts for > 60% of total asthma-related medical costs. Uncontrolled asthma symptoms and frequent asthma exacerbations associated with severe asthma have profound adverse effects on patients' quality of life. The concepts of difficult-to-treat asthma and severe asthma are different; severe asthma represents one kind of difficult-to-treat asthma. Misdiagnosis, nonadherence, and comorbidities may also be causes of difficult-to-treat asthma. This review discusses important principles in the treatment of difficult-to-treat asthma and severe asthma.
