[Association between the use of short-acting bronchodilators and the risk of hospitalization for asthma in a real-life clinical practice population cohort]. / Asociación entre la utilización de broncodilatadores de corta duración y el riesgo de hospitalización por asma en condiciones de práctica clínica habitual en una cohorte poblacional.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) canisters dispensed in a pharmacy during one year that is associated with higher asthma hospitalization risk in the same period in patients with active asthma. Multi-centre cross-sectional descriptive design. LOCATION Primary care, MAJORICA cohort including sociodemographic, clinical and electronic prescription system data coded during clinical practice from 68,578 patients with COPD and asthma in the Balearic Islands. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7,648 patients older than 18 years with active asthma, who got any SABA canister from the pharmacy during the 2014-2015 period were included. COPD patients were excluded. MAIN MEASUREMENTS Asthma hospitalization, respiratory medication, tobacco, co-morbidities, age and gender. RESULTS: Mean age 47 years, 38% women, 23.2% active smokers. Seventy-seven patients (1%) were admitted for asthma exacerbation in the study period. Patients who received more than 8 SABA containers per year increased the risk of hospitalization (OR 2.81; 95% CI 1.27-6.24). Severity by therapeutic step and amount of inhaled corticosteroids, as well as heart failure and sleep apnea were also significantly associated with hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between the risk of hospitalization and the higher number of SABA canisters dispensed from the pharmacy. The number of canisters/year that best defines a higher risk of hospitalization is≥8 and could be used to identify asthma at risk.