Understanding reliever overuse in patients purchasing over-the-counter short-acting beta2 agonists: an Australian community pharmacy-based survey

• Published in: BMJ open 2019-08, Vol.9 (8), p.e028995-e028995
• Main Authors: Azzi, Elizabeth A, Kritikos, Vicky, Peters, Matthew J, Price, David B, Srour, Pamela, Cvetkovski, Biljana, Bosnic-Anticevich, Sinthia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergies; Asthma; chronic airways disease; Drug stores; Patients; Pharmacists; Purchasing; Questionnaires; Respiratory Medicine; respiratory medicine (see thoracic medicine)
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-028995

ObjectivesOveruse of asthma relievers is associated with significant adverse consequences. This study aimed to better understand the population purchasing and using short-acting beta agonists (SABA) over the counter (OTC); and compare the demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics of those who overuse SABA with those who do not.Design and settingReal-world cross-sectional observational study in community pharmacy.ParticipantsOf 412 participants ≥16 years requesting SABA OTC, 289 were SABA overusers (used SABA more than twice per week in the past 4 weeks).Main outcome measureReliever use, Global Initiative for Asthma-defined control, healthcare utilisation, patterns of preventer use.Results70.1% of participants were classified as SABA overusers, that is, reporting SABA use more than twice a week within the last 4 weeks, 73.6% reported not using a preventer daily and only 81.6% reported a doctor diagnosis of asthma. SABA overusers were more likely to have moderate-severe nasal symptoms (80.8% vs 63.0%, p