title: Relationship between adherence to inhaled corticosteroids and poor outcomes among adults with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) can improve asthma symptoms and prevent exacerbations. However, overall adherence is poor among patients with asthma. Objective To estimate the proportion of poor asthma-related outcomes attributable to ICS nonadherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively identified 405 adults age 18 to 50 years who had asthma and were members of a large health maintenance organization in southeast Michigan between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001. Adherence indices were calculated by using medical records and pharmacy claims. The main outcomes were the number of asthma-related outpatient visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, as well as the frequency of oral steroid use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall adherence to ICS was approximately 50%. Adherence to ICS was significantly and negatively correlated with the number of emergency department visits (correlation coefficient [ R ] = -0.159), the number of fills of an oral steroid ( R = -0.179), and the total days' supply of oral steroid ( R = -0.154). After adjusting for potential confounders, including the prescribed amount of ICS, each 25% increase in the proportion of time without ICS medication resulted in a doubling of the rate of asthma-related hospitalization (relative rate, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.06-3.79). During the study period, there were 80 asthma-related hospitalizations; an estimated 32 hospitalizations would have occurred were there no gaps in medication use (60% reduction).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence to ICS is poor among adult patients with asthma and is correlated with several poor asthma-related outcomes. Less than perfect adherence to ICS appears to account for the majority of asthma-related hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detoit, MI 48202, USA. kwillia5@hfhs.org
authors.forename: L Keoki
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pladevall
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Jennifer Elston
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lafata
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ownby
authors.forename: Christine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones