Targeting treatable traits in severe asthma: A randomised controlled trial

Vanessa M. McDonald*, Vanessa L. Clark, L. Cordova-Rivera, Peter A.B. Wark, Katherine J. Baines, Peter G. Gibson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

188 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rationale
Treatable traits have been proposed as a new paradigm for airway disease management.

Objectives
To characterise treatable traits in a severe asthma population and to determine the efficacy of targeting treatments to these treatable traits in severe asthma.

Methods
Participants (n=140) with severe asthma were recruited to a cross-sectional study and underwent a multidimensional assessment to characterise treatable traits. Eligible participants with severe asthma (n=55) participated in a 16-week parallel-group randomised controlled trial to determine the feasibility and efficacy of management targeted to predefined treatable traits, compared to usual care in a severe asthma clinic. The patient-reported outcome of health-related quality of life was the trial's primary end-point.

Main results
Participants with severe asthma had a mean±sd of 10.44±3.03 traits per person, comprising 3.01±1.54 pulmonary and 4.85±1.86 extrapulmonary traits and 2.58±1.31 behavioural/risk factors. Individualised treatment that targeted the traits was feasible and led to significantly improved health-related quality of life (0.86 units, p<0.001) and asthma control (0.73, p=0.01).

Conclusions
Multidimensional assessment enables detection of treatable traits and identifies a significant trait burden in severe asthma. Targeting these treatable traits using a personalised-medicine approach in severe asthma leads to improvements in health-related quality of life, asthma control and reduced primary care acute visits. Treatable traits may be an effective way to address the complexity of severe asthma.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1901509
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
Volume55
Issue number3
Early online date5 Mar 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2020
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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