Abstract
Aims: To verify the relationship between adherence rate to beclomethasone diproprionate (BDP) and the level of asthma control.
Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 102 randomly selected subjects with persistent asthma, aged 4-14 years, were treated according to GINA recommendations and followed for one year. Adherence rate to BDP was measured through Doser CT® (Medtrack Products, USA), during each of the three follow-up visits taking place in the 4th, 8th and 12th month. Based on modified GINA categories, the level of asthma control was classified as either controlled or uncontrolled.
Results: Mild (36.2%) and moderate (56.9%) predominate over severe persistent asthma. The median adherence rate was higher in patients with controlled asthma during follow-up, but went down from 54.0% in the 4th month to 47.0% in the 12th month (p=0.038). Conversely, among patients with uncontrolled asthma, the median adherence rate reduced from 43.8% (4th month) to 31.2% (12th month, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the level of asthma control was independently associated to the adherence rate in all three visits (p-values ≤ 0.005).
Conclusion: In this study, level of asthma control was directly proportional to adherence rate. However, our results suggest that to gain control over mild and moderate persistent asthma, an optimal BDP adherence rate to currently recommended therapeutic regimens seems to be unnecessary.
Paulo Camargos is supported by FAPEMIG- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil (Grant PPM-00230-10).
- © 2011 ERS
