title: The self-administration of inhaled beta agonist drugs during severe asthma.
abstract: Interviews were conducted with 101 consecutive adult patients admitted to Wellington Hospital with a diagnosis of asthma to assess the extent to which beta agonist drugs are self-administered by asthmatic patients during severe asthma. The 99 patients prescribed an inhaled beta agonist were subdivided into two groups: group A comprising 79 patients prescribed a beta agonist for inhalation via an inhaler (metered dose aerosol or dry powder device) alone; group B comprising 20 patients prescribed beta agonist for inhalation via both an inhaler and nebuliser. In group A, the attacks of asthma lasted greater than 24 hours in 64/79 patients, and 22% of these patients reported taking more than 60 doses of their inhaler, and 52% more than 30 doses during the 24 hr period prior to admission. In group B, the attacks of asthma lasted greater than 24 h in 17/20 patients, and 35% of these patients self-administered their nebuliser more than six times, and 76% more than four times during the 24 h period prior to admission. In addition to their nebuliser use, these patients also took a median 23 doses of their inhaler during this 24 h period. This use of inhaled beta agonist contrasts with the recommended practice in both the USA and Europe, where most physicians recommend no more than 15 doses of a beta agonist as the maximal dose per day. We conclude that asthmatic patients in New Zealand self-administer high doses of inhaled beta 2 agonist drugs during severe exacerbations of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Windom
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005280:Fenoterol