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Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Over-the-counter short-acting β2-agonist purchase and asthma-related health outcomes: a post hoc analysis of the
David Price1,2, Maarten J H I Beekman3, Walter Javier Mattarucco4
1Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Abstract:
This post-hoc analysis of the SABINA III study evaluated the association of short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) prescriptions and self-reported over-the-counter (OTC) SABA purchase in the previous 12 months with asthma-related outcomes using multivariable regression models in 4556 patients (mean age, 48.9 years). Of the 2810 patients prescribed ≥3 SABA canisters, 776 (27.6%) also purchased ≥1 SABA OTC. This subset of 776 patients reported the highest disease burden; 73.2% had ≥1 severe exacerbation and 55.7% had uncontrolled asthma. Asthma-related outcomes worsened with any SABA OTC purchase, regardless of SABA prescriptions; disease burden was the highest in patients with ≥3 SABA prescriptions and ≥1 SABA OTC purchase vs 1-2 SABA prescriptions only (86% lower odds of having at least partly controlled asthma and 124% increased incidence of severe asthma (both P < 0.001). These findings emphasize the need to implement policy changes to restrict SABA purchase without prescriptions and ensure access to affordable asthma care.
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