BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Registries in high-income countries have significantly advanced the understanding of lung diseases. This feasibility study aimed to establish a registry of patients with suspected respiratory disease at a major teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A prospective hospital-based registry was established at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) for patients aged ≥18 years with respiratory disease. The registry collected demographic, clinical, and spirometric data.

RESULTS: The registry captured data from 285 participants. Of these, 132 (46%) were diagnosed with asthma and 41 (14%) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among patients with asthma, the median pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) was 0.94 L, with a percent predicted of 39% (IQR: 29–55). Post-bronchodilator FEV₁ increased to a median of 1.20 L, percent predicted 54% (IQR: 38–70), with a median percentage change in FEV₁ of 27%. Asthma prevented 54 participants (41%) from performing basic life activities. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) symptom assessment tool, only 6 patients (4%) had controlled asthma.

Among patients with COPD, the median pre-bronchodilator FEV₁ was 0.97 L, percent predicted 43% (IQR: 34–61). Post-bronchodilator FEV₁ was 1.02 L, percent predicted 46% (IQR: 37–64), with a median percentage change in FEV₁ of 6% (IQR: 2–8).

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that establishing a respiratory patient registry in Ethiopia is feasible. Such registries represent an important first step toward defining disease burden, identifying risk factors, improving treatment, and ultimately enabling tailored clinical trials to advance respiratory care in the country.

KEYWORDS: Asthma; COPD; Characterization; Lung function