Characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with asthma on multiple-inhaler triple therapy in Spain

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2022 Mar 10;32(1):11. doi: 10.1038/s41533-022-00270-2.

Abstract

The aim of this observational, retrospective study was to describe characteristics, treatment patterns, and adherence among patients with asthma who initiated multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT) in Catalonia, Spain. This study used data of patients initiating MITT in 2016 from the SIDIAP (Information System for Research in Primary Care) database, which covers ~80% of the Catalonian population (5.8 million). Of 1,204 patients initiating MITT, 361 (30.0%) stepped down (discontinued ≥ 1 and continued ≥1 MITT component) and 89 (7.4%) stopped all three components of MITT for a period of 60 days during the following 12 months. In the follow-up period, 196 (16.3%) patients were considered adherent to MITT (>0.8 proportion of days covered [PDC]), with a mean (standard deviation) PDC of 0.52 (0.51) days. Given the low adherence and substantial rates of step down/discontinuation among patients initiating MITT, there is an urgent need to implement strategies to improve treatment adherence/persistence.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Asthma* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Medication Adherence
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spain

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists