Asthma Patients Not Receiving Proper Medication

Results of a study of 12,636 asthma patients visiting emergencydepartments determined that many physicians are notproperly prescribing asthma medication. Physicians are focusingmore on rescue medications such as short-acting beta-agonists(SABA) rather than controller medications. Asthma guidelinesrecommend inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy for asthma control?only 25% of asthma patients received ICS in the yearbefore visiting the emergency department. More than 80% ofthese patients received rescue medications. A third received anoral corticosteroid (OCS) while more than 50% received aSABA, according to a recent issue of Chest. After the emergencydepartment visit, 26% of asthma patients received ICS therapy,38% received SABA, and 42% received OCS therapy.