Users of antiasthma drugs in Iceland: A drug utilization study

There has been an increasing consensus worldwide on how to treat asthma, and, simultaneously, an increase in the sales of antiasthma drugs, However, little is known about actual drug use, dosage, combinations of drugs, etc., or about the clinical characteristics of patients using these drugs. All individuals with prescriptions for antiasthma drugs, who came to Icelandic pharmacies during March 1994, were invited to participate. By means of questionnaires, the pharmacists recorded the age and gender of the patient, the speciality of the prescribing doctor, as well. as the name of the drug, total amount prescribed, and dosage. The patients were asked to answer another questionnaire on their clinical diagnosis, usage of other antiasthma drugs, etc. The pharmacists registered 2,026 individuals, with 2,687 prescriptions: 1,574 far beta(2)-agonists, 838 for inhaled corticosteroids, 208 for theophylline, 48 for anticholinergic drugs, and 19 for cromoglycates, One thousand, three hundred and fifty one patients answered the questionnaires, The majority (67%) claimed to have asthma, 18% chronic bronchitis, 11% emphysema and 5% other diseases or symptoms. Among those aged greater than or equal to 16 yrs with asthma, 93% used beta(2)-agonists, 62% inhaled corticosteroids, 19% theophylline, and very few used other drugs. The most commonly used combination (57%) was beta(2)-agonists with inhaled corti-costeroids. Thirty one per cent used beta(2)-agonists as monotherapy, and 5% used only inhaled corticosteroids, Theophylline was used mainly in combination with beta(2)-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids. In conclusion, our data suggest that two thirds of antiasthma drug users have asthma and that most are treated according to present guidelines. The use of inhaled corticosteroids, however, seems somewhat less than optimal.