RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Beta agonists, inhaled steroids, and the risk of intensive care unit admission for asthma
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 233
OP 240
DO 10.1183/09031936.01.17202330
VO 17
IS 2
A1 M.D. Eisner
A1 T.A. Lieu
A1 F. Chi
A1 A.M. Capra
A1 G.R. Mendoza
A1 J.V. Selby
A1 P.D. Blanc
YR 2001
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/2/233.abstract
AB Although inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use is associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization for asthma, the impact of ICS on the risk of life-threatening asthma exacerbation is less clear. The effect of ICS and inhaled beta agonist (IBA) dispensing on the risk of intensive care unit admission for asthma, a surrogate for life-threatening exacerbation, is evaluated.Using computerized International classification of diseases (ICD)-9 discharge diagnoses, a cohort of all 2,344 adult Northern California members of a health maintenance organization hospitalized for asthma over a 2-yr period were identified. Computerized pharmacy data was used to ascertain asthma medications dispensed during the 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals preceding index hospitalization for asthma.During the 3-months preceding hospitalization, a minority of subjects had no IBA units dispensed (34%), with 14% receiving low level (1 unit), 20% medium level (2–3 units), and 32% high level (≥4 units) therapy. A substantial proportion received no ICS units (55%), whereas 13% had low, 16% medium, and 15% high level therapy. In multiple logistic regression analysis, high level IBA use was associated with a greater risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission for asthma after controlling for asthma severity. There was no relationship, however, between low or medium level IBA use and ICU admission. Conversely, medium level and high level ICS use were associated with a reduced risk of ICU admission. Analysing 6- and 12-month medication dispensing data, similar risk patterns were observed.Inhaled corticosteroid dispensing was associated with reduced risk of intensive care unit admission among adults hospitalized for asthma, whereas the opposite applied for high dose beta agonist usage. This suggests that ICS prescription to adults with moderate-to-severe asthma could reduce the risk of life-threatening exacerbation.Supported by National Research Service Award F32 HL0054 and K23 HL04201 and K04 HL03225, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.