Worldwide, the number of people suffering from asthma continues to rise rapidly. An estimated 300 million people are currently suffering from asthma. This chronic lung disease is the result of a persistent inflammation of the respiratory tract, which is associated with an increased sensitivity of the bronchial system to various stimuli. Thanks to modern medicine, the disease can now be controlled so well that in most patients seizures and symptoms only occur occasionally. Nonetheless, the success of each patient's drug treatment depends on the expertise of the treating physician. This is particularly the case for severe eosinophilic asthma, also called uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma, for which new drugs, so-called biologics, have been available for about 3 years now. With the introduction of these biologics, a special outpatient clinic for severe asthma has been set up at the MHH Clinic for Pneumology.

This asthma center was recently selected by AstraZeneca as the Asthma Visiting Center of Excellence. In February 2019, 12 pulmonologists from Dubai, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates visited the asthma center to learn from the Hannover experts. The two heads of the special outpatient clinic, Dr. Hendrik Suhling and Dr. Nora Drick, together with Prof. Dr. Tobias Welte, director of the clinic and site director of BREATH, hosted the lectures and visiting program.

In addition to the presentation of therapeutic options, co-morbidities such as bronchiectasis and atopic dermatitis were also presented. Another focus was on clinical studies in the field of asthma, which are being carried out in large numbers at the MHH together with the Fraunhofer ITEM. However, the program did not only include lectures. Also, two patients of the asthma outpatient clinic had agreed in advance to present their course of illness together with the treating physicians as a case study. The guests from the Gulf States were especially impressed by Dr. Michael Stephan from psychosomatics, who explained the psychical influence on a disease like asthma.

The two content-packed days were rated very positively by the Arab doctors. The mutual exchange of experiences made another valuable contribution to strengthening the treatment competence of the participants and, at the same time, of the speakers.

Text: BREATH / CD

Bild: BREATH / IK