Introduction:
In Tunisia, only 54% of adults followed for asthma are controlled. Several factors are
associated with poor control of the disease, including the socioeconomic situation, the
insufficiency of the health system and the sociocultural level of the patients.
Methods. :
Cross-sectional study carried out with asthmatic patients followed in pneumology
consultation at the CHU Hedi Chaker in SFAX, to assess factors involved in the inhaled
medication adherence and thus barriers to the control of the disease.
Results :
We collected 140 patients, including 88 women, with an average age of 46.
Fifty-two percent of the patients had severe asthma. 80% of patients accepted their illness.
Only 35% knew their disease and its symptoms and 24% of these patients adhered to
treatment The main causes of poor asthma control were poor socioeconomic and intellectual
conditions, the presence of comorbidities, the age at onset. Non-compliant patients were also
more often poorly controlled.
Considerable consequences concern 40% of patients, thus 28% are bothered with an
impaired quality of life
Conclusion :
It appears from our study that a better knowledge of the disease and its symptoms would be a
determining factor in improving therapeutic compliance and asthma control.