Pattern and outcomes associated with inappropriate use of short-acting beta-agonists in asthma
Objectives:
Objective 1: Determine the pattern and trend of short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) use in relation with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in British Columbia (BC) between 1997 and 2014.
Objective 2: Determine the predictors of inappropriate use of SABAs.
Objective 3: Determine the outcomes associated with the inappropriate use of SABAs in relation with ICS.
Hypotheses:
Hypothesis 1: There continues to be inappropriate use of SABAs in BC across the study period.
Hypothesis 2: Factors such as socio-economic status (SES), demographic factors (sex), and access to care (generalist versus specialist care) are associated with inappropriate use of SABAs.
Hypothesis 3: Inappropriate use of SABAs has been associated with preventable hospital admissions or exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids.
Journal Publication
- Predictors of inappropriate and excessive use of reliever medications in asthma: a 12-year population-based study. Tavakoli H, Fitzgerald JM, Lynd LD, Sadatsafavi M. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, volume 18, Article number: 33 (2018).