Trends in pharmacotherapy for chronic airflow limitation in Argentina: 1983-1990

Reported increases in worldwide asthma mortality have prompted the publications of guidelines and consensus statements on the management of airway disease. Overreliance in bronchodilator therapy and lack of anti-inflammatory treatment have been the major findings and the guidelines are aimed at correcting these problems. The Argentinean population appears to have increased prevalence and severity of conditions characterized by chronic airflow limitation and there is no data, to our knowledge, that has analyzed how the treatment of such conditions has been conducted in the past years. Drug sales data in Argentina were surveyed retrospectively to estimate prescriptions dispensed for the treatment of airway disease for the years 1983 to 1990 inclusive. The number of prescriptions of all airway drugs increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the 8-year period except for oral beta 2-agonists and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG). Prescriptions for these agents were 42.7% and 69% less frequent respectively. Thus, oral beta 2-agonists declined from being the single most frequently prescribed class of drugs (40% of prescriptions) in 1983 to the third most frequently prescribed (22%) in 1990. Concurrently, prescriptions of inhaled beta 2-agonists in all forms rose significantly comprising 27% in 1983 and 46% in 1990 becoming the most commonly prescribed airway therapy. Despite this apparent trend away from oral bronchodilator therapy, theophylline prescriptions comprised a significantly higher percentage of prescriptions in 1990 as compared to 1983 (30% vs 20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)