Age- and sex-specific prevalence of chronic comorbidity in adult patients with asthma: A real-life study.

The presence of comorbidity can be associated with poorer asthma outcomes. Previous prevalence studies focused on a limited selection of comorbid conditions in asthma only. We aimed to determine age- and sex-specific prevalence estimates for the full range of chronic comorbid conditions in adult asthma patients by performing a retrospective cohort study based on 32,787 medical records of patients aged ≥16 years with asthma from 179 general practices in the Netherlands.

Associations between chronic comorbidity and exacerbation risk in primary care patients with COPD.

Background: COPD often coexists with chronic conditions that may influence disease prognosis. We investigated associations between chronic (co)morbidities and exacerbations in primary care COPD patients.

Method: Retrospective cohort study based on 2012-2013 electronic health records from 179 Dutch general practices.

Characteristics of patients making serious inhaler errors with a dry powder inhaler and association with asthma-related events in a primary care setting.

Objective: Correct inhaler technique is central to effective delivery of asthma therapy. The study aim was to identify factors associated with serious inhaler technique errors and their prevalence among primary care patients with asthma using the Diskus dry powder inhaler (DPI).

Methods: This was a historical, multinational, cross-sectional study (2011-2013) using the iHARP database, an international initiative that includes patient- and healthcare provider-reported questionnaires from eight countries.