Characteristics of uncontrolled asthma in Australia

Aim: To compare the characteristics of patients with uncontrolled asthma across multiple urban regions of Australia. Methods: Adults (non/ex-smokers) with symptomatic asthma despite main- tenance ICS/LABA treatment (n = 248) were assessed for the AMAZES study, a multicentre RCT evaluating the addition of azithromycin in fi ve tertiary centres: John Hunter (JHH), Princess Alexandra (PAH), Royal Adelaide (RAH), Prince Charles (TPCH) and Sir Charles Gairdner (SCGH) Hospitals. Clinical assessment and sputum induction were performed. Results: Participants had a mean (SD) age of 58 (13) years, pre β2 FEV1% 71.9 (22.4), FEV1/FVC 68.4 (12.3) and asthma control questionnaire score 1.82 (0.86) with no signifi cant differences between centres. There were differ- ences in asthma severity with fewer participants at GINA treatment step 4 (p = 0.001) and lower maintenance ICS dose (p = 0.002) from PAH and RAH. Participants from RAH were significantly more sensitive to grass (p = 0.006) and cat hair (p < 0.001) specific allergen, and RAH and SCGH participants more likely to experience hay fever (p < 0.0001). Work was reported as a significant trigger for asthma in JHH participants (p = 0.024), while rhinitis was significantly less of a trigger (p = 0.001). There were no differences in smoking history, sputum phenotype, blood eosinophilia or symptom visual analogue scores between centres. Conclusions: Participants with uncontrolled asthma have similar lung function and smoking history but differ in GINA treatment step, specific allergen sensitivity and asthma triggers across Australia.