A 6 Months NIS to Evaluate the Use of Rescue Medication and Quality of Life in Adult Asthmatic Subjects Treated With Symbicort® SMART®

A 6 Months NIS to Evaluate the Use of Rescue Medication and Quality of Life in Adult Asthmatic Subjects Treated With Symbicort® SMART® 1-2 Inhalations b.i.d. as Maintenance Therapy Plus Additional Inhalations As-needed, Compared to Patients Treated With a Free Combination of an Inhaled Glucocorticosteroid and an Inhaled Long Acting ß2-agonist Plus as Needed Inhalations of a Short Acting ß2 Agonist.

The purpose of this study is to describe the use of rescue medication and quality of life in adult asthmatic patients, either treated with SYMBICORT SMART® (regular dose according to physician's prescription and the current summary of product characteristics - SPC) or treated with a free combination of ICS plus LABA plus as needed SABA prescribed by the physician.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed diagnosis of asthma demonstrating a reversible obstruction during the last 5 years prior to visit 1.

• Patients being prescribed either Symbicort SMART or a free combination of ICS and LABA with SABA as rescue inhaler and being on that treatment for at least 3 month.

• A history (documented in the patient's file) of at least one severe asthma exacerbation within 24 months prior to visit 1 but not within the last 30 days prior to Visit 1.

• A severe asthma exacerbation is defined as a deterioration of asthma leading to at least one of the following:

  • Oral/systemic GCS treatment due to asthma for at least 3 days
  • Unscheduled health-care visit due to asthmaHospitalization or emergency room visit because of asthma requiring treatment with oral/systemic GCS

Exclusion Criteria:

• Intake of oral, rectal, or parenteral GCS within 30 days prior to visit
• Use of ß-blocking agents
• Respiratory infection affecting the asthma, as judged by the investigator, within 30 days prior to visit 1.