Impact of Switching Inhaler Devices on Asthma Control
Author Information
Author(s): Thomas Mike, Price David, Chrystyn Henry, Lloyd Andrew, Williams Angela E, von Ziegenweidt Julie
Primary Institution: University of Aberdeen
Hypothesis
Switching inhaler device without a consultation is associated with worsened clinical outcomes for patients with asthma.
Conclusion
Switching ICS devices without a consultation was associated with worsened asthma control and is therefore inadvisable.
Supporting Evidence
- 53% of device switches were from dry powder to metered-dose inhalers.
- 20% of switched patients experienced successful treatment compared to 34% of controls.
- Switched patients had an odds ratio of 0.29 for treatment success compared to controls.
Takeaway
Changing asthma inhalers without talking to a doctor can make asthma worse. It's better to have a consultation before switching.
Methodology
This was a 2-year retrospective matched cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database to analyze asthma control after inhaler device switching.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to incomplete recording of consultations and the retrospective nature of the study.
Limitations
The study is limited by the completeness and accuracy of the database used, and findings may not reflect clinical significance despite statistical significance.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 6–65 years with a diagnosis of asthma, matched by sex, age, smoking status, and other health factors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
0.19 to 0.44
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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