Kerwin EM, et al. – Among users of ProAir hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) (albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol), with integrated dose counters (IDC) versus without IDC, in asthma patients, health care resource utilization (HRU) was investigated. In a real-world setting, as compared with patients using ProAir HFA without IDC, experts reported significantly fewer hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in asthma patients using ProAir HFA with IDC. IDCs provided the dosage information, that seemed to allow providers to better understand patients’ disease severity and aid in titrating controller medications.

Methods

• They introduced this retrospective administrative claims study of asthma patients receiving a new prescription for albuterol inhalation aerosol without IDC during 2 years (January 2011–December 2012) or with IDC during the first full year after IDC implementation in the USA (July 2013–July 2014).
• A need of six months of continuous enrollment with medical and prescription drug benefits before and after the first prescription during the study period, was highlighted.
• During the follow-up period, they gathered data on respiratory-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits.

Results

• This study indicated the use of albuterol inhalation aerosol with IDC in 135,305 (32%) patients.
• In addition, 287,243 (68%) patients received albuterol inhalation aerosol without IDC.
• Among patients using albuterol inhalation aerosol with IDC, after adjusting for baseline confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for experiencing a respiratory-related hospitalization (OR=0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88–0.96) or ED visit (OR=0.92; 95% CI 0.90–0.94) was significantly lower compared to without IDC.