| Recent 10 Years' Trend Analysis of Inhaled Corticosteroids Prescription Rate and Severe Exacerbation Rate in Asthma Patients. |
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Chang Suk Noh, Jae Seung Lee, Jin Woo Song, Tae Bum Kim, Nam Kug Kim, You Sook Cho, Sang Do Lee, Hee Bom Moon, Yeon Mok Oh |
1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ymoh55@amc.seoul.kr
2Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
3Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
4Asthma Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most essential medication for asthma control. Many reports suggest that the usage of ICSs improves not only the control of asthma symptoms but also prevents exacerbation. We investigated whether increases in ICS prescriptions are associated with decreases in asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the database of adult asthma patients who had visited a tertiary referral hospital, the Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2009. The number of emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) care, deaths, and ICS prescriptions were analyzed to evaluate the time trend of asthma exacerbation as a function of the ICS prescription rate during the ten years. RESULTS: The numbers of ED visits, admissions, and episodes of ICU care decreased during the ten years (p<0.001, p=0.033, p=0.001, respectively) while the number of ICS prescriptions increased (p<0.001). We found a correlation between the number of ICS prescriptions and the number of ED visits, admissions, or ICU care. For these outcomes, the correlation coefficients were r=-0.952, p<0.001; r=-0.673, p=0.033; r=-0.948, p<0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: The number of ICS prescriptions increased during the past ten years while the number of asthma exacerbations decreased. Our results also showed a negative correlation between the ICS prescription rate and asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. In other words, an increase in ICS prescription may be a major cause of a decrease in asthma exacerbations. |
| Key Words:
Asthma, Disease Exacerbation, Inhalers, corticosteroid |
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