Multimorbidity is near-ubiquitous in severe asthma, necessitating a shift from asthma-centric to patient-centric management models.
The SHARP central database study identified three stable comorbidity clusters across Europe: steroid-induced (osteoporosis/weight gain), atopic (eczema/rhinitis), and sinonasal (sinusitis/nasal polyps).
The ‘Steroid-associated Multimorbidity Phenotype’ (MMP ster) represents the most clinically burdened group, with the worst lung function, highest exacerbation rates, and highest BMI.
Recognizing these multimorbidity phenotypes allows for targeted interventions and may mitigate the iatrogenic impact of long-term oral corticosteroid use.
