Patient-Reported Pulmonary Symptoms, Exacerbations, and Management in a Cohort of Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Rationale: Identifying pulmonary exacerbations in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is critical as they are associated with disease progression and poor health-related quality of life. Not all changes in usual respiratory symptoms will be identified as exacerbations by patients with AATD.

Methods: Data collected via regular monthly telephone calls during the first year of the AlphaNet Step Forward Study were analyzed. AlphaNet subscribers were asked about changes in their usual respiratory symptoms, whether they considered changes in symptoms to be pulmonary exacerbations, and their management. Participants who reported changes in their usual respiratory symptoms throughout the year were included in the study. Per-patient and per-event analyses were performed.

Results: Participants (n=316, age 58±10 years, 53% female) reported 797 events of changes in their usual respiratory symptoms in 1 year. Almost half (48%) of these symptom events were identified as pulmonary exacerbations by the study participants. The average number of symptoms was higher in events recognized by participants as exacerbations than those not identified as exacerbations (3.3±1.5 versus 1.8±1.1, respectively). A greater proportion of the exacerbation events were managed by taking antibiotics or corticosteroids or both (81%, 53%, and 41% of the events, respectively). With exacerbations, participants mainly spoke to the pulmonary specialist (39%) or went to the doctor's office (37%). Symptom events not recognized as exacerbations were mostly self-treated (56%).

Conclusions: Changes in usual pulmonary symptoms are not universally recognized as exacerbations. Patients' perspectives in recognizing changes in pulmonary symptoms as exacerbation events are critical.