Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System
Published on: April 6, 2017
Respiratory drugs and macrolides prevent asthma exacerbations: A real-world investigation
Andrea Arfè1, Francesco Blasi2, Luca Merlino3
1Laboratory of Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
Objective:
We investigated the real-world effectiveness of several drugs (including short- and long-acting beta-agonists [SABAs and LABAs], inhaled corticosteroids [ICS], and antibiotics) in preventing severe asthma exacerbations by carrying-out a large observational study based on the healthcare utilization databases of the Italian Lombardy Region.
Methods:
We identified all patients aged 6-40 years who performed an Emergency Department visit for asthma during 2010-2012 as cases. To address bias due to unmeasured confounders, we implemented a case-crossover (CC) design. Addressing other specific sources of systematic errors (e.g. protopathic bias) was of particular concern in this study.
Results:
A total of 7300 cases were included in the study. The CC odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for current vs. past use were 0.81 (0.71, 0.92) for SABAs, 0.83 (0.72, 0.96) for ICS, 0.78 (0.66, 0.91) for LABA/ICS fixed combinations, 0.79 (0.65, 0.97) for other respiratory drugs, and 0.79 (0.69, 0.92) for macrolides antibiotics. Sensitivity analyses showed that our results were robust with respect to several sources of bias.
Conclusions:
Our study provides evidence from the real-world clinical practice on the effectiveness of several respiratory drugs and macrolides in reducing the risk of severe asthma exacerbations.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
01:19Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists
One class of bronchodilators includes β2-adrenoceptor agonists. These agents target the β2-adrenoceptors located on bronchial smooth muscle cells. By stimulating these receptors, β2-agonists induce...
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...