Compliance with inhaled glucocorticoids and concomitant use of long-acting β2-agonists

We investigated whether treatment with a long-acting beta (2)-agonist (LA beta (2)) is associated with a decrease in patient compliance with regard to inhalation corticosteroids (ICS). Date on prescriptions collected by 15 760 patients suffering from airways disease were provided by 69 Dutch pharmacies. All prescriptions of ICS and LA beta (2) were analysed and divided in four groups by LA beta (2) use during 1997 and 1998. Date from 15 760 patients were available. In the 10 929 patients not treated with LA beta (2), compliance decreased slightly but not significantly. In 3281 patients receiving LA beta (2) compliance also decreased slightly but not significantly. In 404 patients. who used a LA beta (2) in 1997 and discontinued treatment in 1998, the compliance fell significantly (P <0(.)05). In 1147 patients who started to use a LA beta (2) in 1998, compliance with ICS significantly improved (P <0.05). These results suggest that the regular use of LAB improves compliance with ICS. Therefore, the concern that compliance with inhaled corticosteroid therapy will decrease under concomitant use of LA beta (2) appear to be unfounded.