Predictors of asthma medication nonadherence.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe asthma medication adherence behavior and to identify predictors of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) underuse and inhaled beta-agonist (IBA) overuse.


METHODS
Self-reported medication adherence, spirometry, various measures of status, and blood for immunoglobulin E measurement were collected on 158 subjects from a larger cohort of adults with asthma and rhinitis who were prescribed an ICS, an IBA, or both.


RESULTS
There was a positive association between ICS underuse and higher forced expiratory volume in one second percent (FEV1%) predicted (P = .01) and a negative association with lower income (P = 0.04). IBA overuse was positively associated with greater perceived severity of asthma (P = 0.004) and negatively with higher education level (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Nonadherence to prescribed asthma therapy seems to be influenced by socioeconomic factors and by perceived and actual severity of disease. These factors are important to assess when trying to estimate the degree of medication adherence and its relationship to clinical presentation.
Janson
Susan L
SL
School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, USA.
Earnest
Gillian
G
Wong
Kelly P
KP
Blanc
Paul D
PD
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents