Types and frequency of triggers experienced by asthma patients: A quantitative study

Background: Detailed information about the frequency and type of asthma trigger exposures recognised by asthma patients is not readily available. Methods: We used patient diaries and an online study to quantify triggers identified by patients with asthma in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The study was completed by 1202 adults with asthma on maintenance therapy; 177 also completed an online diary every other day for 3 weeks. Results: The majority of patients in the study were uncontrolled (76% had an Asthma Control Test score of ≤19). A wide variation in the number of triggers ever encountered by asthma patients was identified (1–36, mean 13); over one-third described having experiencing at least 16 triggers. Key triggers and the proportion of sufferers reporting ever experiencing them were: dust/dusting (72%), colds/influenza/sinusitis (69%), smoking (60%), smoke (59%), air pollution (58%), exercise (54%), strong odours (54%), weather changes (51%), mould (51%) and animals (50%). Dust/dusting was the most common and frequent trigger, whereas colds/influenza/sinusitis although common was experienced less frequently. Whilst many patients experienced a range of triggers, the combination of only 3 (dust/dusting, smoking and exercise) accounted for 79% of triggers experienced in the last 2–3 months. Diary entries showed 67% of asthma patients experienced at least one trigger on every day of diary completion. Only (7%) claimed to experience triggers infrequently (every 4–6 months or less often). Conclusion: A wide range and high frequency of asthma triggers amongst asthma patients was identified. The most common were dust/dusting, colds/influenza/sinusitis, smoking and smoke. Funded by GSK