Sex differences in the use of asthma drugs: cross sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of asthma drugs by men and women with asthma and to identify sex specific predictors for the use of oral steroids.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
Six general practices in East Anglia.


METHODS
103 men and 134 women aged 20-54 with asthma.


METHODS
Self reported use of agonists, inhaled steroids, and oral steroids.


RESULTS
No sex difference was found in use of agonists or inhaled steroids. However a strong association existed between sex and oral steroid use. 40 (30%) women reported using oral steroids compared with nine (9%) men. Women were more than five times (odds ratio=5.5, 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 13.7) more likely to report use of oral steroids than men after asthma symptoms, age, visits to the general practitioner in previous six months, and time since diagnosis of asthma were controlled for. Women who had visited the general practitioner for asthma one or more times in the previous six months were four times (3.9, 1.6 to 9.5) as likely to report use of oral steroids. In addition, more frequent visits to the general practitioner for asthma were related in a dose-response manner to a greater likelihood of using oral steroids among women after asthma symptoms, age, and time since diagnosis were controlled for. This relation was not observed among men.


CONCLUSIONS
Women used oral steroids more than men. The more frequent consultations with a doctor by women may result in more requests for oral steroids or doctors may preferentially prescribe oral steroids to women.
Sexton
M
M
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA. msexon@epl.umaryland.edu
Althuis
M D
MD
Santanello
N
N
Hyndman
S
S
Williams
R
R
Schmeidler
D
D
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D013256:Steroids