Managing multimorbidity in severe asthma: comparison of resources and perspectives between severe asthma specialists and general respiratory physicians across Europe
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Multimorbidity refers to the presence of multiple coexisting conditions, but is often underappreciated in the context of severe asthma (SA) management. We sought to identify differences in approaches to multimorbidity management in SA, variability in access to multidisciplinary team (MDT) resources, and whether physician perspectives on multimorbidity differ between SA specialists and general respiratory physicians. Methods: European national respiratory societies to assess 1) available resources to address multimorbidity and 2) physician perspectives on multimorbidity in SA. Results: 495 responses from 25 European countries included 48% SA specialists and 52% general respiratory physicians. SA specialists had more experience with SA patients (20% were seeing >60 patients per month) compared to general respiratory physicians. SA specialists had greater access to multidisciplinary care - including better access to MDTs, allied health professionals and referrals to external specialists, and therefore more routinely assessed comorbidities and considered them greater influences on their practice. They also considered multimorbidity to a greater degree and rated its impact on their patients' asthma outcomes (and general health outcomes) as more substantial. Conclusions: Alongside more experience of treating SA, SA specialists have increased awareness of multimorbidity and better resources to manage it. However, access to MDTs remains a significant gap for both SA specialists and general respiratory physicians. Furthermore, both groups identified a high need for further education and training about multimorbidity. These findings highlight key areas for improvement in clinical practice, resources and training.
Source: ERJ Open Research
Authors: Dace Matīsa, Aruna T. Bansal, Saša Rink, Anna Freeman, Betty Frankemölle, Mehar Singh, Jacob K. Sont, Apostolos Bossios, Ben Ainsworth, Michael Hyland, Rekha Chaudhuri, Florin Mihaltan, Antonio Spanevello, Enrico Heffler, Ian Adcock, Martina Zappa, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Guy Brusselle, Arnaud Bourdin, Giulia Anna Maria Luigia Costanzo, Ildiko Horvath, Dóra Lúðvíksdóttir, Stefania Principe, Peter Kopač, Cláudia Chaves Loureiro, Arne Egesten, Stephanie Korn, Konstantinos Samitas, Marcus Butler, Joerg Leuppi, Edin Jusufovic, Felix Wantke, Shane Hanon, Fabienne Jaun, Virginija Kalinauskaite-Zukauske, Sanja Dimic-Janjic, Graham Roberts, Sanja Hromis, Branislava Milenkovic, Judit Varkonyi-Sepp, Ozlem Goksel, Ana Margarida Pereira, Ratko Djukanovic, Angela Rizzi, Marco Caminati, Ruihua Hou, Anamarija Štajduhar, Dóra Paróczai, Luisa Brussino, Liam G. Heaney, Hans Michael Haitchi, Matteo Bonnini, Kristina Bieksiene, Ebru Damadoglu, Valentyna Yasinska, Bilun Gemicioglu, Sanja Popović Grle, Anneke ten Brinke, Zsuzsanna Csoma, Iveta Kroiča, Piotr Kuna, Celeste Porsbjerg, Hilary Hodge, Florence Schleich, Sabina Skrgat, Ramesh J. Kurukulaaratchy
Institutions: Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University of Southampton, European Lung Foundation, Leiden University, Leiden University Medical Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, University of Plymouth, University of Glasgow, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Humanitas University, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Imperial College London, Ghent University Hospital, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Inserm, Université de Montpellier, Physiologie et Médecine Expérimentale du Coeur et des Muscles, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, University of Cagliari, University of Debrecen, Országos Korányi Tbc és Pulmonológiai Intézet, National University Hospital of Iceland, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Heidelberg University, University College Dublin, University of Basel, Kantonsspital Baselland, University of Tuzla, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, University of Belgrade, Univerzitetski Klinički Centar Srbije, St Mary's Hospital, David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, University of Novi Sad, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Ege University, Universidade do Porto, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, University of Verona, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb, University of Szeged, University of Turin, Queen's University Belfast, Sapienza University of Rome, Hacettepe University, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul University, Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, Riga East University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Liège, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $808
Funders: Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Chiesi Farmaceutici, European Respiratory Society, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Celltrion Healthcare, Allergy Therapeutics, Celltrion, National Institute for Health and Care Research, ZonMw, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Sanofi Genzyme, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7162014934
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