PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Murphy, Anna C
AU  - Proeschal, Amandine
AU  - Brightling, Christopher E
AU  - Wardlaw, Andrew J
AU  - Pavord, Ian
AU  - Bradding, Peter
AU  - Green, Ruth H
TI  - The relationship between clinical outcomes and medication adherence in difficult-to-control asthma
AID  - 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-201096
DP  - 2012 Aug 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 751--753
VI  - 67
IP  - 8
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/67/8/751.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/67/8/751.full
SO  - Thorax2012 Aug 01; 67
AB  - Medication non-adherence and the clinical implications in difficult-to-control asthma were audited. Prescription issue data from 115 patients identified sub-optimal adherence (<80%) in 65% of patients on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or combined ICS/long-acting β2 agonist (LABA). In those using separate ICS and LABA, adherence to LABA (50%) was significantly better than to ICS (14.3%). Patients with sub-optimal ICS adherence had reduced FEV1 and higher sputum eosinophil counts. Adherence ratio was an independent predictor of previous ventilation for acute severe asthma (p=0.008). The majority of patients with difficult-to-control asthma are non-adherent with their asthma medication. Non-adherence is correlated with poor clinical outcomes.