Descripción del uso de medicación inhalada de rescate en una población asmática atendida en el ámbito de Atención Primaria. Estudio UMI-ASMA / Description of the use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics. UMI-ASMA Study

OBJETIVO: Describir el uso cuantitativo de medicación inhalada de rescate en una población asmática atendida en el ámbito de Atención Primaria y, secundariamente, conocer su posible asociación respecto a otras variables relacionadas con el control. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional descriptivo. Muestra no seleccionada de todos los pacientes asmáticos con más de un año de evolución, procedentes de 17 cupos poblacionales de Atención Primaria. Periodo de observación de un año. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas y características del asma como uso de short-acting beta-agonists (SABA, «beta-agonistas de acción corta») y grado de control conforme a su frecuentación de uso, utilización de medicación inhalada de control (MIC), número de exacerbaciones hospitalarias, tabaquismo y disponibilidad de un plan de acción. Los datos fueron obtenidos de la historia clínica y de los módulos electrónicos de prescripción. RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 442 pacientes asmáticos (59,5% mujeres) con una media de 45,4 años. El número total de envases de SABA prescritos en el año por paciente estuvo comprendido entre los 0 y los 25 envases, con un promedio de 4,26 (DT 4,1). Solo un 46,6% mostraba un uso regular de MIC. El número de envases prescritos de SABA a los pacientes que presentaban un uso intermitente de la MIC fue significativamente superior con respecto al de los pacientes con un uso regular de la misma (p = 0,001). Existe una asociación entre el número de exacerbaciones y el número de envases prescritos de SABA (coeficiente de correlación de Spearman=0,474, p < 0,001), de forma que a mayor número de envases prescritos, mayor número también de exacerbaciones asmáticas hospitalarias. CONCLUSIONES: Un porcentaje considerable de asmáticos de la muestra presenta elevadas prescripciones de envases de SABA en rangos cuantitativos definitorios de al menos asma parcialmente controlada o mal controlada. El sobreuso de SABA presenta una relación positiva con el uso intermitente de MIC, al igual que con las exacerbaciones hospitalarias, el tabaquismo y la ausencia de un plan de acción por escrito

OBJECTIVE: To describe the quantitative use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics, and secondly to determine its possible relationship as regards other variables associated with control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive study was conducted on a randomised sample of all the asthmatic patients with more than one year of onset, and coming from 17 Primary Care catchment areas. 1 year observation period. The data collected included sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the asthma, such as the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) and level of control as regards its frequency of use, the use of inhaled control medication (ICM), number of hospital exacerbations, smoking habits, and availability of an action plan. The data were obtained from the clinical history and the computerised prescription modules. RESULTS: A total of 442 asthmatic patients were included (59.5% female), with a mean age of 45.4 years. The total number of SABA containers prescribed in one year per patient was between 0 and 25 containers, with a mean of 4.26 (SD=4.1). Only 46.6% showed a regular use of an ICM. The number of SABA containers prescribed to patients with an intermittent use of an ICM was significantly higher than those patients that used it regularly (P=.001). There was an association between the number of exacerbations and the number of SABA containers prescribed (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.474, P<.001), as such that the higher the number of containers prescribed there was also a higher number of hospitalised asthmatic exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of asthmatics in the sample had elevated prescriptions for SABA inhalers and within the defined quantitative ranges of at least a partially or poor-controlled asthma. There is a positive relationship between the overuse of SABA and the intermittent use of the ICM, the same as with hospital exacerbations, smoking, and the lack of a written action plan

[Description of the use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics. UMI-ASMA Study]. / Descripción del uso de medicación inhalada de rescate en una población asmática atendida en el ámbito de Atención Primaria. Estudio UMI-ASMA.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the quantitative use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics, and secondly to determine its possible relationship as regards other variables associated with control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive study was conducted on a randomised sample of all the asthmatic patients with more than one year of onset, and coming from 17 Primary Care catchment areas. 1 year observation period. The data collected included sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the asthma, such as the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) and level of control as regards its frequency of use, the use of inhaled control medication (ICM), number of hospital exacerbations, smoking habits, and availability of an action plan. The data were obtained from the clinical history and the computerised prescription modules. RESULTS: A total of 442 asthmatic patients were included (59.5% female), with a mean age of 45.4 years. The total number of SABA containers prescribed in one year per patient was between 0 and 25 containers, with a mean of 4.26 (SD=4.1). Only 46.6% showed a regular use of an ICM. The number of SABA containers prescribed to patients with an intermittent use of an ICM was significantly higher than those patients that used it regularly (P=.001). There was an association between the number of exacerbations and the number of SABA containers prescribed (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.474, P<.001), as such that the higher the number of containers prescribed there was also a higher number of hospitalised asthmatic exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of asthmatics in the sample had elevated prescriptions for SABA inhalers and within the defined quantitative ranges of at least a partially or poor-controlled asthma. There is a positive relationship between the overuse of SABA and the intermittent use of the ICM, the same as with hospital exacerbations, smoking, and the lack of a written action plan..