Real-life effectiveness of omalizumab in difficult-to-treat versus severe asthma: A national cohort study in Belgium

Background: Guidelines recommend omalizumab in patients with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma. We investigated real-life use of omalizumab, the proportion of patients fulfilling eligibility criteria, its costs and its effectiveness. Method: In a cohort of asthma patients initiating treatment with omalizumab in Belgium between 2010 and 2016, we investigated fulfilment of eligibility criteria (chronic use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) plus long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and ⩾2 severe asthma exacerbations in previous year), and compared hospitalisations and systemic corticostero... Mehr ...