Kwang-Ha Yoo, MD, PhD
,
Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
Hae-Ryun Ahn, MD
,
Dami IM Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
Jae-Kyoung Park, MD, PhD
,
Seoulbom IM Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
Jong-Woong Kim, MD, PhD
,
Jong-Woong Kim IM Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
Gui-Hyun Nam, MD
,
Hamchun Medical Clinic, Incheon, South Korea
Soon-Kwan Hong, MD, PhD
,
Coco ENT Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
Mee-Ja Kim, MD
,
Myung ENT Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
AG Ghoshal, MD, DNB, FCCP
,
National Allergy Asthma Bronchitis Institute, Kolkata, India
Abdul Razak Bin Abdul Muttalif, MBBS
,
Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Horng- Chyuan Lin, MD
,
Division of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Sanguansak Thanaviratananich, MD
,
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Shalini Bagga, PhD
,
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
Rab Faruqi, MD
,
Merck & Co., Inc. (retired), Kenilworth, NJ
Santwona Baidya, PhD
,
Optum, Sydney, Australia
Colman Taylor, PhD
,
Optum, Sydney, Australia
De Yun Wang, MD, PhD
,
Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Sang-Heon Cho, MD, PhD
,
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Background: The Asia-Pacific Burden of Respiratory Disease (APBORD) study, was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted to examine the burden of disease in adults with allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and rhinosinusitis in six countries. The aim of this study was to report the results for Korea, including the percentage of patients receiving care for respiratory diseases and the frequency of presenting symptoms.
Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years, presenting to a physician with primary diagnosis of asthma, AR, COPD or rhinosinusitis were enrolled. Patients completed a survey which contained questions related to demographics, respiratory symptoms, healthcare resource use and quality of life.
Results: A total of 4,439 patients were screened, of whom 1,779 (40.1%) were eligible and 999 (56.2%) consented and were enrolled. The highest percentage of patients receiving care for a respiratory disorder had primary diagnosis of AR 12.5%, (95%CI: 11.6%, 13.5%), followed by asthma 7.2% (6.4%, 8.0%), rhinosinusitis 1.6% (1.2%, 2.0%) and COPD 1.3%, (1.0%, 1.6%). Patients were frequently diagnosed with multiple respiratory disorders (42.8%), with asthma/AR (23.2%) and AR/rhinosinusitis (15.4%) the most frequently diagnosed combinations – with or without other conditions. Among all symptoms reported, cough or coughing up phlegm was most frequently reported by participants with a primary diagnosis of asthma (68%), followed by rhinosinusitis (62%), COPD (59%), and AR (49%). In addition, cough or coughing up phlegm was the main reason for the medical visit for patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma and COPD whereas nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, blocked nose and congestion) were the main reasons for patients with a primary diagnosis of AR and rhinosinusitis.
Conclusions: Asthma, AR, COPD and rhinosinusitis represent a significant percentage of patients with respiratory disorders presenting to healthcare professionals in the Korea, with many patients presenting with concomitant disease. Timely identification of symptoms is important in implementing effective disease management, especially in patients with multiple respiratory diseases.
