Rationale;Severe asthma (SA)cohorts now exist worldwide.Comparing them will enable validation of initial findings from bio-clinical phenotyping of the cohorts.
Aims;The aim of the study was to compare SA from Brazil(ProAR cohort)and from Europe(U-BIOPRED cohort)
Methods;The U-BIOPRED adult SA cohort was collected from 11 European countries.ProAR cohort is comprised of adults with previously untreated SA followed up for several years in one reference centre in Brazil.Data collection was harmonized when possible.In ProAR there was a subgroup of subjects with a typical history of asthma but no spirometric reversibility whereas in U-BIOPRED,those with no reversibility were required to fulfil other criteria eg.hyperresponsiveness to methacholine.
Results;Similarities and differences between U-BIOPRED and ProAR cohorts of SA. Figure 1
Summary;These two cohorts, which markedly differ in their environment and ethnicity,have striking similarities on their mean age and FEV1.Age of onset was higher in U-BIOPRED and the proportion of females was greater in ProAR.The use of oral corticosteroids daily was frequent in U-BIOPRED,and still they had more exacerbations and higher ACQ scores.Regular use of oral corticosteroids was not observed in ProAR, after several years of tapering down.Comparisons between these two cohorts,however diverse they are, will provide the basis of global,external validation of SA phenotypes.