The Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) has published results of a new survey of US asthma patients. Of the patients surveyed, 100% reported use of a short-acting bronchodilator, and 95% reported that they use some form of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
The high percentage of patients reporting use of inhaled medications is particularly interesting in light of the fact that over one third of the survey respondents said that they spend more than $1,000 per year on insurance co-pays and deductibles or other costs for medications, testing, and devices related to their asthma. Patients also reported having difficulties obtaining prescribed medications for various reasons, including an inhaler’s exclusion from their insurer’s formulary.
Survey respondents also reported a high rate of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, with approximately 15% reporting a near-fatal attack, according to the AANMA. Almost 20% reported at least one hospitalization.
Nancy Sander, founder and president of AANMA will be speaking at the upcoming IPAC-RS conference.
Read the AANMA article.
