The effect of biologics in the treatment of severe asthma- analysis of an age and sex matched cohort

<bold>Background:</bold> Asthma is a chronic airway disease, with 5-10% experiencing a severe form of asthma(SA). In the past decade, the availability of biologics has revolutionized the treatment of SA. <bold>Objectives:</bold> The aim of this study was to assess the effect of biologics on asthma related outcomes (asthma control, quality of life (QoL), exacerbation rate, blood eosinophil count (BEC)) in patients with SA. <bold>Method:</bold>180 patients form the Swiss Severe Asthma Registry with biologic treatment ≥ 12 months(BT) were matched by age and sex with 82 biologic naive patients(nBT) and compared at time of inclusion to the registry. <bold>Results:</bold> Significant differences in outcomes were observed in the BT vs. nBT group: fewer exacerbations (BT: 3; nBT: 1), better QoL (BT: 59; nBT: 81.5), better asthma control (BT: 16; nBT: 21), lower BEC (BT: 123/µl ; nBT: 380/µl) (Fig.1). Differences were noted, in a higher prevalence of allergic type of asthma (BT: 49% vs. nBT: 34%), chronic rhinosinusitis (BT: 46 % vs. nBT: 38 %), and nasal polyps (BT: 36 % vs. nBT: 15%). No significant differences were found in OCS use (BT: 17 % vs. nBT: 18 %), daily ICS dose or lung function (FEV1, FVC, FeNO). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Patients in the BT group had significantly better asthma control, QoL and lower BEC. Despite absence of significant differences in OCS use. Our findings suggest that biologics play a crucial role to improve management and disease burden of SA. <fig><object-id>erj;66/suppl_69/PA4663/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>