Living well with severe asthma.

Living well with severe asthma can be challenging. People with severe asthma can be refractory to treatment, can experience poor symptom control and are at a heightened risk of death. Patients experience symptoms of shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough and wheeze. These symptoms influence many aspects of an individual's life, resulting in emotional, financial, functional and medication-related burdens that negatively impact quality of life. Quality of life is known to be influenced by individual levels of satisfaction that stem from real-life treatment experiences. This experience is portrayed through the lens of the patient, which is commonly referred to as the patient perspective. The patient perspective is only one element of the patient experience. It influences health status, which, in severe asthma, is commonly assessed using validated health-related quality of life measures. A positive patient perspective may be achieved with implementation of management strategies tailored to individual needs. Management strategies developed in partnership between the patient, the severe asthma multidisciplinary team and the general practitioner may minimise disease-related impairment, allowing patients to live well with severe asthma. KEY POINTS: Despite advances in treatment over the past decade, the experience of living with severe asthma has not significantly improved, with high levels of burden influencing the patient perspective.The impact of severe disease is not only restricted to asthma symptoms and acute attacks. It causes significant emotional, financial, functional and medication-related burdens, leading to impaired health-related quality of life.Clinical outcomes should not be stand-alone measures in severe asthma. Nonclinical measures should also be considered when evaluating health-related quality of life.Disease burden may be minimised and quality of life improved EDUCATIONAL

aimsTo demonstrate the importance of the patient perspective in severe asthma.To identify the significant levels of disease burden associated with severe asthma.To discuss quality of life in severe asthma.To outline strategies that increase well-being in severe asthma.