Mometasone furoate versus beclomethasone dipropionate: effectiveness in patients with mild asthma

To evaluate adherence to therapy and markers of asthma control among patients with mild asthma prescribed mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler or beclomethasone dipropionate hydrofluoroalkane aerosol inhaler.

Retrospective healthcare claims database analysis (2005-2008).

Included were patients with mild asthma aged 12 to 65 years (1273 matched patients in each treatment cohort) who resided in the United States and were enrolled in their health plan for at least 1 year before (ie, preindex period) and after (ie, postindex period) they initiated treatment with mometasone furoate or beclomethasone dipropionate. Patients were propensity score matched based on demographic data and preindex variables. Claims were analyzed during the postindex period for adherence to mometasone furoate or beclomethasone dipropionate, measured as the percentage of days covered and the numbers of exacerbations and short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) claims.

Multivariate analyses indicated that the cohort receiving mometasone furoate had better outcomes than the cohort receiving beclomethansone dipropionate, including greater adherence (29.5% vs 20.2%, respectively, P <.001), fewer exacerbations (mean, 0.12 vs 0.19, P = .002), and decreased SABA canister claims (mean, 0.9 vs 1.1, respectively, P <.001).

Adherence to prescribed therapy among patients with mild asthma may be better with mometasone furoate versus beclomethasone dipropionate, as reflected in fewer exacerbations and more limited use of SABA rescue medications. Improved adherence to mometasone furoate versus beclomethasone dipropionate may be related to a simpler dosing regimen (ie, once daily vs twice daily).