Asia Pacific survey of physicians on asthma and allergic rhinitis (ASPAIR): data from China

BACKGROUND: In China, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma has increased in the past decade. As these two diseases frequently coexist, the Asia-Pacific Survey of Physicians on Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (ASPAIR) study aimed to assess physicians’ beliefs and treatment patterns of coexistent asthma-AR across six Asian countries. This analysis presents the results from China. METHODS: The 200 hospital-based general physicians and pediatricians were interviewed from five cities in China. Physicians were questioned in-person about their knowledge, beliefs and management practices for patients with coexistent asthma-AR. RESULTS: Approximately 70% of the physicians interviewed routinely evaluated their patients with asthma or AR for signs of coexistent disease. While the majority of physicians (>90% of physicians) recognized the increased burden of coexistent asthma-AR vs. one condition alone and that coexistent disease requires additional treatment, most physicians (96%) also believed that patients with coexistent asthma-AR were well managed if either condition alone improved. Similarly, although 71% of physicians selected a combination of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids as their preferred treatment for coexistent asthma-AR, in line with treatment guidelines, two fifths of physicians indicated that treatment for coexistent disease requires too much medication and that their patients prefer oral medications and a third of physicians believed that corticosteroids should be delayed in children. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates that physicians interviewed in China have a broad understanding of coexistent asthma-AR and its impact on patients. A holistic approach to patient management with informed decisions regarding patients’ overall treatment will benefit patients who suffer from coexistent disease.