[The AIRE Study: data analysis of 753 European children with asthma].

PROBLEM

To analyse the paediatric data from the AIRE study (Asthma insights and reality in Europe) describing the standard of asthma control in Europe.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Among the 73,880 households contacted by telephone in 7 countries 753 children under the age of 16 were identified. An interview was conducted with a close relative to determine the frequency and severity of symptoms during the recent month, visits to casualty and hospital admissions during the past year, the medications used, the effects on the lives of the children, the opinions of the parents on the level of control of asthma and the monitoring methods used.

RESULTS

38.2% of children reported diurnal symptoms and 28% disturbance of sleep at least once a week. The consequences were important: limitation of sporting activities (29.5%) and absence from school (42.7% in the past year). Treatment was inadequate: 26% of children used inhaled steroids yet 45.9% had persistent asthma. The level of control was overestimated: 61% of parents of children with severe persistent asthma considered the asthma to be well controlled.

CONCLUSION

European asthmatic children are poorly controlled, under-treated and rarely followed up. The consequences, particularly absence from school, should stimulate an improvement in their therapeutic and educational management.