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| |  Asthma Patients Unclear on the Need to Continue Controller Medications: Presented at AAAAI By Maggie Schwarz WASHINGTON, DC -- March 17, 2009 – Asthma patients and their primary-care physicians apparently stop or decrease their controller medication when asthma symptoms subside, researchers reported here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting. This indicates a knowledge gap in how controller medications are to be used. A large percentage of patients decrease or stop use of controller medications with improved symptoms, are likely to use daily rescue medication, and fail to recognise asthma risks while asymptomatic, noted lead investigator Reynold A. Panettieri, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- despite indicating a knowledge of the appropriate use of controller medications. Several surveys, including the Asthma General Awareness and Perceptions (GAP) survey, have identified gaps between patient and physician knowledge and beliefs about asthma and its treatment that may provide insight into how to improve asthma outcomes. Most patients with asthma who are on regular maintenance therapy often still experience inadequate control. Dr. Panettieri and colleagues conducted a telephone survey of 1,001 adult patients taking asthma medication the previous year and 300 primary-care physicians treating at least 3 patients weekly. Presenting the results of the survey on March 15, the researchers noted that 62% of participants used controller medications, and 59% used rescue medication. The majority of these patients (66%) considered asthma a serious condition. While 42% of these patients and 22% of primary-care physicians stated that controller medications could be taken less regularly when symptoms decrease, over 90% of patients and primary-care physicians indicated that controller medications are most effective when taken every day. Of the 21% of patients who discontinued controller medications, 71% did so due to symptom abatement. Many asymptomatic patients did not feel at risk from asthma, and 87% of primary-care physicians felt that patients stop taking controller medications without their advice. Sixty-nine percent of patients believed that rescue medication could be used daily. Sixty-four percent of the survey participants in this study were female, and 76% were white. Thirty-eight percent had a college degree or greater. The mean patient age was 47.4 years. Funding for this study was provided by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
[Presentation title: Awareness of Asthma Control and Asthma Risks: Results of the GAP II Survey of Patients and Primary Care Physicians. Abstract 160]
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