Evaluating Risk Factors in Patients with Severe Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study

Severe asthma (SA) is a major health problem which can be controlled with highdoses of inhaled or systemic glucocorticoids. In this cross-sectional study, 96 patients with SA attending a pulmonary clinic in Rasht, Iran were included. They were identified based on the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Data were collected from spirometry results, asthma control test (ACT), and depression anxiety stressscales. Among these 96 patients with SA, 69 were women (71.9%) and 27 (28.1%) were men. Mean age of patients was 54.5 ± 12.4 years. There was a significant relationship between gender and ACT score (P= 0.03). However, there was no significant relationship between depression severity and ACT score (P> 0.00). This study showed a significant relationshipbetween anxiety and ACT score (P= 0.008). In addition, a significant relationship was seen between frequency of asthma exacerbation, stress, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (P< 0.05). Thus there are many risk factors in our patients with SA including psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression which cause asthma exacerbations. The study also showed that increased sputum neutrophils are associated with asthma exacerbations.