Trends in pharmacotherapy for chronic airflow limitation in Argentina: 1992-2002

Asthma and COPD mortality rates have decreased in Argentina. These trends might be the result of the way these conditions are being treated. The number of units for prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs used to treat chronic airflow limitation in Argentina from 1992 through 2002 were analyzed. Units for drugs to treat chronic airflow limitation fell by 45% over the 11-year period (p < 0.0001) due to significant reductions for oral beta2-agonists (OBA) (down 73%), theophyllines (down 74%), oral steroids (OS) (down 66%) and inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists (ISABA) (down 28%). Market share for inhaled steroids (IS) increased from 2.6% to 11.7%, for inhaled ipratropium (IP) from 0.35% to 3.7%, for the combination of inhaled steroids with short-acting beta2-agonists (IS+ISABA) from 7.8% to 13%, and for inhaled IP combined with short-acting beta2-agonists (IP+ISABA) it increased from 1.7% to 7.3%. Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists (ILABA) and leukotriene modifiers (LM) were rarely prescribed. The use of more specific inhaled therapies (IS, IP) increased significantly in accordance with recommendations for the treatment of asthma and COPD and this may explain the reduction in asthma and COPD mortality in Argentina.