Clinical symptoms and 'off-label' prescribing in children with asthma.
A UK-wide database of structured asthma review consultations was used to investigate the prevalence of 'off-label' anti-asthma prescriptions in relationship to clinical symptoms of asthma control. The 1050 children (6.1%) aged 16 years or under issued with an off-label prescription reported more nighttime, daytime and activity asthma symptoms, and used more short-acting beta(2)-agonist medication than their peers. Off-label prescribing for children with asthma in UK primary care is associated with worse levels of self-reported asthma control.
McCowan
Colin
C
Tayside Centre for General Practice, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. c.mccowan@chs.dundee.ac.uk
Hoskins
Gaylor
G
Neville
Ron G
RG
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents