SABA use as an indicator for asthma exacerbation risk: an observational cohort study (SABINA Canada)

Stephen G Noorduyn; Christina Qian; Karissa M Johnston; Mena Soliman; Manisha Talukdar; Brandie L Walker; Paul Hernandez; Erika Penz

doi:10.1183/23120541.00140-2022

SABA use as an indicator for asthma exacerbation risk: an observational cohort study (SABINA Canada)

ERJ Open Res. 2022 Sep 26;8(3):00140-2022. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00140-2022. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Stephen G Noorduyn^{1

2}, Christina Qian³, Karissa M Johnston^{3

4}, Mena Soliman¹, Manisha Talukdar¹, Brandie L Walker⁵, Paul Hernandez⁶, Erika Penz⁷

Affiliations

¹ Dept of Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca Canada, Mississauga, Canada.
² Dept of Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
³ Broadstreet HEOR, Vancouver, Canada.
⁴ Memorial University, St John's, Canada.
⁵ Division of Respirology, Dept of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
⁶ Division of Respirology, Dept of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
⁷ Division of Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Patients with asthma use short-acting β-agonists (SABA) to relieve symptoms but SABA alone does not treat underlying inflammation. Thus, over-reliance on SABA may result in poor asthma control and negative health outcomes.

Objective: To describe use of SABA and characterise the relationship with severe exacerbations in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia (NS) and Alberta (AB).

Methods: In this longitudinal Canadian SABA In Asthma (SABINA) study, patients with an asthma diagnosis were identified between 2016 and 2020 within two provincial administrative datasets (Health Data Nova Scotia and Alberta Health Services). All patients were followed for ≥24 months, with the first 12 months used to measure baseline asthma severity. Medication use and the relationship of SABA overuse (three or more canisters per year) with severe asthma exacerbations were characterised descriptively and via regression analysis.

Results: A total of 115 478 patients were identified (NS: n=8034; AB: n=107 444). SABA overuse was substantial across both provinces (NS: 39.4%; AB: 28.0%) and across all baseline disease severity categories. Patients in NS with SABA overuse had a mean±sd annual rate of 0.46±1.11 exacerbations, compared to 0.30±1.36 for those using fewer than three canisters of SABA. Patients in AB had mean±sd exacerbation rates of 0.31±0.86 and 0.17±0.62, respectively. The adjusted risk of severe exacerbation was associated with SABA overuse (NS: incidence ratio rate 1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.56; AB: incidence ratio rate 1.32, 95% CI 1.27-1.38).

Conclusion: This study supports recent updates to Canadian Thoracic Society and Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines for asthma care. SABA overuse is associated with increased risk of severe exacerbations and can be used to identify patients at a higher risk for severe exacerbations.