Patients’ perception of allergic asthma and their compliance to omalizumab in an Italian clinical setting

Introduction: Currently, limited information is available on the effectiveness of omalizumab in Italian patients with severe allergic asthma (SAA). PROXIMA study assessed the effect of omalizumab on asthma control in Italian patients with SAA. Here, we present the effect of omalizumab on patients’ illness perception and their compliance to omalizumab at 6 and 12 months of treatment. Methods: PROXIMA was a 2-phase observational study: cross-sectional phase enrolled patients with SAA (GINA step 4) requiring step-up therapy; longitudinal prospective phase enrolled patients receiving omalizumab as per clinician’s judgement at baseline visit. Patients’ illness perception was assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Results: Of 365 patients enrolled, 123 contributed to longitudinal population. A significant improvement in most of the domains of BIPQ was observed from baseline to 6 and 12 month follow-up period (Table). Patients’ compliance to omalizumab during 12-month study period was high (mean±SD: 96.9±7.8%). Majority of patients (73.2%) never discontinued omalizumab during the study; only 9 patients discontinued omalizumab permanently, of whom just one due to lack of efficacy. Conclusion: An improvement in patients’ perception of illness was observed with omalizumab treatment and omalizumab was consistently followed with good compliance in patients with SAA in an Italian real-life setting.