The German Asthma Net e.V. focusses on science and research in patients with severe asthma. This includes, in particular, the optimization of medical care and treatment for patients with severe asthma as well as the elucidation and information. An unavoidable basis for a better understanding of severe asthma is the registration and comprehensive characterization of a large patient population. To date, there are only few reliable data on incidence, prevalence, phenotypes and treatment of patients with severe asthma. For this reason, the German Asthma Net e.V. was established in December 2011 as a clinical registry for patients with severe asthma, initially set up on a national basis.

Sociodemographic parameters (e.g., gender, date of birth) and medical parameters (diagnosis, therapy) are entered in the register. In addition, data on lung function, laboratory values (IgE and eosinophil granulocytes), asthma control (symptoms, nocturnal awakenings, on-demand medication, exacerbations), smoking status, and concomitant therapy (inhalable corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and systemic steroids) are collected. This information will be collected at the baseline visit, and then once a year at a follow up visit, for fifteen years.

Participants will be assigned a unique study ID to protect the confidentiality of their personal health care information. Personal data and register data are on separate servers and thus meet the requirements of data protection.

The primary purpose is to establish a clinical registry for patients with severe asthma. The number of patients with severe asthma at a single center or practice is usually small, so several centers (clinics and practices) in Germany have joined together to form the German Asthma Net e.V. to optimize the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of patients with severe asthma.

Definition: Severe asthma in children and adolescents

Poor symptom control in the last year despite (medium to) high doses of anti-inflammatory maintenance treatment:

(i) Age 6-18 years (at inclusion) (ii) Asthma diagnosis made by a medical doctor (iii) Potential differential diagnoses excluded (iv) Good compliance and trained inhalation technique (v) Evidence of:

a. Positive bronchodilator reversibility testing (≥ 12% increase in FEV1 after SABA) or b. Significant bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) after unspecific provocation test (e.g. methacholine challenge or treadmill) according to ATS criteria (Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000) (vi) High level of treatment:

1. Maintenance treatment with high doses of ICS (>400 μg budesonide or equivalent / ≥ 200 μg of fluticasone as monotherapy) or
2. Maintenance treatment with medium to high doses of ICS (≥400 μg budesonide or equivalent / ≥ 200 μg fluticasone) combined with LABA and/or LTRA and/or theophylline or
3. Treatment with oral steroids for ≥ 3 months (vii) Poor asthma control:

a. Inadequate symptom in the past 4 weeks: i. asthma symptoms ≥3 x / week or use of rescue medication ≥3 x / week; or ii. activity limitations due to asthma; or iii. any nighttime asthma symptoms; or b. ≥ 1 exacerbation in the last year with ≥ 3 days of OCS treatment or hospitalisation or b. Poor lung function with reduced Tiffeneau index or FEV1 at inclusion (viii) written informed consent (parent or legal guardian)

Exclusion criteria:

(i) Diagnosis of other obstructive or systemic pulmonary diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis, COPD) despite BPD at inclusion (ii) Other congenital lung diseases or pulmonary malformations (iii) Other significant chronic diseases (iv) Congenital or acquired heart defects with significant functional limitations

Definition: Severe asthma in adults

High level of treatment (A), i.e. step 5 of GINA guideline or (B) medium level of treatment and poor symptom control:

(A) High level of treatment:

1. Maintenance treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (≥ 1000 μg beclomethasone (BDP, powder) or equivalent) in combination with LABA or LTRA or theophylline or
2. Maintenance treatment with oral corticosteroids (OCS) for ≥3 months independent of other asthma treatments or
3. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies independent of other asthma treatments

B) Medium level of treatment and poor symptom control:

1. Maintenance treatment with medium to high doses of ICS (≥ 500 μg BDP (powder) or equivalent) in combination with LABA or LTRA or theophylline and
2. Poor symptom control:

(i) asthma symptoms ≥ 3 x / week or use of rescue medication ≥ 3 x / week; or (ii) activities limited due to asthma; or (iii) any nighttime asthma symptoms; or (iv) ≥ 1 exacerbation in the last year with ≥ 3 days of OCS treatment or (v) FEV1<80% of predicted

Patients presenting to participating study center (pulmonologists in private practice or in pulmonary departments in hospital)