Characteristics of Reliever Inhaler Users and Asthma Control: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Portuguese...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA) are crucial for asthma relief.
• Overuse of SABA may signal inadequate asthma control and lead to adverse health outcomes.
• The SABINA+ initiative aims to improve understanding and management of asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize individuals using SABA for asthma in Portugal.
• To examine SABA usage patterns among community pharmacy customers.
• To identify factors linked to asthma control and differences across GINA treatment steps.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in Portuguese community pharmacies.
• Adult participants with a self-reported asthma diagnosis were recruited during SABA dispense.
• Data collected via pharmacist interviews and self-administered questionnaires, including the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT®).

Main Results:

• Over half of patients (65.0%) reported inhaler overreliance, and 50.2% used SABA on >8 days in 4 weeks.
• A significant majority (79.1%) experienced poorly controlled asthma symptoms.
• SABA overuse and prior exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids were associated with poor disease control.

Conclusions:

• The study population using SABA in community pharmacies is predominantly characterized by uncontrolled asthma.
• Excessive use of reliever inhalers is a common issue, indicating a need for better asthma management strategies.
• Findings underscore the importance of monitoring SABA use to identify and address uncontrolled asthma.