Utilization Patterns and Trends in the Use of Medications for Asthma in a Cohort of Colombian Patients

Abstract

Purpose

Asthma affects approximately 358 million people worldwide. This study aimed to determine the trend for the use of medications intended to treat asthma in a group of patients affiliated with the Colombian health system.

Patients and Methods

This was a retrospective study on prescription patterns of medications used to treat asthma in patients over 5 years of age between 2017 and 2019. Sociodemographic variables, medications used and combinations, the persistence of use, and prescribing physicians were considered. Data were obtained from a drug-dispensing database from Colombia.

Results

A total of 10,706 people diagnosed with asthma were identified, including predominantly females (56.8%), with a mean age of 32.2 ± 26.1 years. At the beginning of the follow-up, 53.2% of patients aged 5–11 years were receiving monotherapy, with a mean of 1.5 ± 0.6 drugs/patient, especially inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs; 55.9%) and short-acting β-agonists (SABAs; 55.6%). Moreover, in patients older than 12 years, 53.5% were treated with monotherapy, with a mean of 1.6 ± 0.7 drugs/patient, 45.9% of whom were on SABAs, while 37.1% were on ICSs. Between 63.0% and 83.6% of patients were treated by a general practitioner. 12.5% of patients (n = 495) received triple therapy (ICS/LABA + LAMA [long-acting antimuscarinic]), particularly fluticasone/salmeterol + tiotropium.

Conclusion

The identification of treatment patterns will allow physicians and decision makers to implement strategies in order to promote adherence to treatment and improve asthma medication use.

Keywords:

• asthma
• anti-asthma agents
• adrenergic beta-agonists
• cholinergic antagonists
• corticosteroids
• pharmacoepidemiology

Data Sharing Statement

Sharing Statement: protocols.io.

Access Availability: dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.b5gmq3u6.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Soffy López and Carlos Tovar for their support in obtaining the initial database of patients.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

This work was funded by GSK. GSK did not participate in the management or data analysis of the study information.

MEMD and JEMA report grants from GSK Colombia and GSK, respectively, during the conduct of the study; and have developed studies funded by GSK, Pfizer, Biotoscana, Sanofi, Sanofi-Pasteur, Abbot, Tecnoquímicas, Bayer, and Novartis.

CYGN and MLC are full-time employees for GSK Colombia. CYGN reports personal fees from GSK Colombia, during the conduct of the study and outside the submitted work.

MLC reports personal fees from GSK, during the conduct of the study; and has received speaker’s fees from GSK, Astra Zeneca, and Novartis. The aforementioned authors report no other potential conflicts of interest in relation to this work.

AGM and LFVR declare no conflicts of interest in relation to this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study (213332) received funding from GlaxoSmithKline Colombia.