Use of Biologics for Severe Asthma in Hong Kong

This is a multi-centre retrospective study of subjects using biologics for the treatment of asthma.

This study will be a retrospective, observational study utilizing data from medical records.

The investigators surveyed all subjects with asthma subjects treated by biologics used in Hong Kong from CDARS or from patient lists drawn from local pharmacies of participating hospitals. Patients' electronic and paper medical records will be reviewed by the co-investigators at the respective hospital (respiratory physicians). Name list of the patients will be drawn from 2003 when the first biologic omalizumab was approved for asthma patient use. The search period lasts till January 2024.

The identity card numbers of the patients will not be included in the database, and patients will be identified by number codes. No personal identifiable information will be reported. No patient consent would be required as this is a healthcare record study.

This study will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and local ethical guidelines.

The following information will be collected:

• The name of the biologic started
• Indications for starting biologics
• Date of starting (switching and stopping with dates, if any, reason for switching and stopping)
• Demographic characteristics of the study including age, gender, body weight, body height, exposure to triggers (smoking, workplace exposure, allergens)
• Comorbidity assessments including:

• Old PTB
• COPD
• Heart Failure
• Hypertension
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Hyperlipidaemia
• Ischemic Heart Disease
• OSA
• Eczema
• GERD
• Nasal polyposis
• Rhinitis
• Psychiatric disorder
• NSAID sensitivity
• Others
• Blood eosinophil count

• latest one before starting biologics
• also record the highest level in the 12 months with date preceding the commencement of biologic
• the latest level with date
• IgE levels

• latest one before starting biologics
• also record the highest level in the 12 months with date preceding the commencement of biologic
• the latest level with date
• Baseline spirometry (before starting biologics) and latest lung function with dates (including history of significant bronchodilator reversibility)
• Baseline FeNO (before starting biologics) and latest FeNO with dates (also record the highest level of FeNO with date in the 12 months preceding the commencement of biologic)
• Asthma control with estimation of ACT and GINA asthma control before and after (at 6 months, 1 year and the latest) biologic therapy with dates
• Skin prick test results or blood allergen sensitization test results, if available
• Age of onset of asthma
• Number of exacerbations 12 months before starting the biologics and also exacerbations after starting the biologics (with dates at the start of the exacerbations)
• Predominant symptom for asthma before the start of biologics
• Medications used before and after (at 6 months, 1 year and the latest) starting biologics (including systemic corticosteroids and inhaled corticosteroids) with dates
• Funding of the biologics (e.g. self-paid, government servants, paid by employer, paid by insurance, paid by Samaritan Fund[full/partial])
• Any complications of steroid toxicity, including osteoporosis, fractures, obesity, DM
• GP visits, government general outpatient visits, specialist outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, number of days of sick leaves taken 12 months before and after the start of biologics
• Side effects of biologics
• Estimation of treatment adherence (From prescription records, patients' claims, physicians' 'feel' and/or FeNO level monitoring)
• Inhaler technique (any checking and if yes, is the technique correct)

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18 years or older.
• Patients diagnosed with severe asthma per the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines.
• Patients who have received biologic therapy for treatment of asthma (including those who received just one dose to allow assessment of the reason for withdrawal)

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with respiratory diseases with other known significant respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis (TB)-destroyed lung parenchyma, history of lung resection and lung cancer