AIMS: To explore the trend in prescribing of drugs classified within the R03 therapeutic pharmacological subgroup (drugs for obstructive airway diseases) of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. METHODS: Comparison of GP-collected data on physician-patient contacts and drug prescriptions for asthma and COPD in 2006 and 2008. RESULTS: Compared to 2006, in 2008 patients with COPD were prescribed more long-acting bronchodilators; use of tiotropium increased, whilst use of long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and short-acting antimuscarinic agents decreased. However, 55.9% of patients in 2006, and 47.8% in 2008, received an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), mainly as a LABA/ICS fixed combination inhaler. Compared to 2006, in 2008 there were increased prescriptions of LABA/ICS fixed combination inhalers for asthma, but only 54.5% of all prescriptions included an ICS. This could explain the large use of short-acting β2-agonists, a marker of poor asthma control. Remarkably, LABA/ICS fixed combination inhalers were prescribed more frequently in COPD than in asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that adherence to guidelines is still low. Patients with asthma and COPD are undertreated by Italian GPs, with a trend to a change in COPD prescribing likely driven by new scientific information.
AIMS: To explore the trend in prescribing of drugs classified within the R03 therapeutic pharmacological subgroup (drugs for obstructive airway diseases) of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. METHODS: Comparison of GP-collected data on physician-patient contacts and drug prescriptions for asthma and COPD in 2006 and 2008. RESULTS: Compared to 2006, in 2008 patients with COPD were prescribed more long-acting bronchodilators; use of tiotropium increased, whilst use of long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and short-acting antimuscarinic agents decreased. However, 55.9% of patients in 2006, and 47.8% in 2008, received an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), mainly as a LABA/ICS fixed combination inhaler. Compared to 2006, in 2008 there were increased prescriptions of LABA/ICS fixed combination inhalers for asthma, but only 54.5% of all prescriptions included an ICS. This could explain the large use of short-acting β2-agonists, a marker of poor asthma control. Remarkably, LABA/ICS fixed combination inhalers were prescribed more frequently in COPD than in asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that adherence to guidelines is still low. Patients with asthma and COPD are undertreated by Italian GPs, with a trend to a change in COPD prescribing likely driven by new scientific information.
Authors: Sven Schmiedl; Rainald Fischer; Luisa Ibanez; Joan Fortuny; Petra Thürmann; Elena Ballarin; Pili Ferrer; Monica Sabaté; Dominik Rottenkolber; Roman Gerlach; Martin Tauscher; Robert Reynolds; Joerg Hasford; Marietta Rottenkolber Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2015-12-23 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Barbara P Yawn; Yunfeng Li; Haijun Tian; Jie Zhang; Steve Arcona; Kristijan H Kahler Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2013-06-27
Authors: Marietta Rottenkolber; Rainald Fischer; Luisa Ibáñez; Joan Fortuny; Robert Reynolds; Justyna Amelio; Roman Gerlach; Martin Tauscher; Petra Thürmann; Joerg Hasford; Sven Schmiedl Journal: BMC Pulm Med Date: 2015-05-06 Impact factor: 3.317
Authors: G De Filippi; M Lallini; G De Riggi; G Marchetti; C M Dimartino; A M Russetti; E Ferrari; R Pistelli; M S Magnoni; M Riparbelli; A Rizzi; P Angeletti Journal: Multidiscip Respir Med Date: 2017-07-17