Characteristics of patients preferring once-daily controller therapy for asthma and COPD: a retrospective cohort...

Patient preference is an important factor when choosing an inhaler device for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

To identify characteristics of patients with asthma or COPD who prefer a once-daily controller medication regimen.

This retrospective observational study used electronic patient records and linked outcomes from patient-completed questionnaires in a primary care database. We compared the characteristics of patients indicating a preference for once-daily therapy with those who were unsure or indicating no preference.

Of 3,731 patients with asthma, 2,174 (58%) were women; the mean age was 46 years (range 2-94). Of 2,138 patients with COPD, 980 (46%) were women; the mean age was 70 years (range 35-98). Approximately half of the patients in each cohort indicated once-daily preference, one-quarter were unsure, and one-quarter did not prefer once-daily therapy. In patients with asthma or COPD, the preference for once-daily controller medication was significantly associated with poor adherence and higher concerns about medication. In asthma, good control and low self-perceived controller medication need were associated with once-daily preference. By contrast, in COPD, a high self-perceived need for controller medication was associated with once-daily preference. There was no significant relationship between once-daily preference and age, sex, disease severity, or exacerbation history.

Understanding patient preferences may help prescribers to individualise therapy better for asthma and COPD.