Prescribing patterns of anti-asthma drugs in pediatric patients

Acta Paediatr Taiwan. 2005 Jul-Aug;46(4):212-8.

Abstract

Guidelines from the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) mention several medications for the treatment of asthma. These medications include oral and inhaled beta-2 agonists, oral and inhaled corticosteroids, xanthines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and their combinations. In addition to asthma, these drugs are commonly prescribed to treat other respiratory diseases, such as acute bronchitis, chronic cough, lower respiratory infection, or even bronchopneumonia. We analyzed differences in prescribing patterns between pediatric patients with and those without asthma, as coded in the claim records from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Oral beta-2 agonists were the most frequently monotherapy in both groups of patients (52.6-77.6% vs 62.8-84. 8%). Oral beta-2 agonists combined with xanthines or oral corticosteroids combined with an oral beta-2 agonist were the most frequent combination therapies in both groups. Inhaled corticosteroids were used in 3.1-11.0% of patients with asthma; the rate varied by patient age. In conclusion, prescribing patterns were similar in pediatric patients with and those without asthma.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Age Factors
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Insurance Claim Reporting / statistics & numerical data
  • Insurance Claim Reporting / trends
  • Leukotriene Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Leukotriene Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Taiwan
  • Xanthines / administration & dosage
  • Xanthines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Leukotriene Antagonists
  • Xanthines