First author [ref.] | Country | Population size (n) | Prevalence of SABA overuse (% patients) | Association between SABA overuse and asthma exacerbations |
Noorduyn [8] | Canada | 115 478 | SABA overuse was associated with an increased mean±sd exacerbation rate | |
Alberta | 107 444 | 28.0 | 0.31±0.86 versus 0.17±0.62 | |
Nova Scotia | 8034 | 39.4 | 0.46±1.11 versus 0.3±1.36 | |
Nwaru [14] | Sweden | 365 324 | 30 | Positive association observed between number of SABA cannisters issued and exacerbation risk (hazard ratio (95% CI)) ≤2 cannisters: 1.00 |
3–5 cannisters: 1.26 (1.24–1.28) | ||||
6–10 cannisters: 1.44 (1.41–1.46) ≥11 cannisters: 1.77 (1.72–1.83) | ||||
Bloom [12] | UK | 574 913 | 38 | SABA overuse was associated with increased risk of exacerbation across asthma severities(adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)) BTS steps 1 and 2: 1.2 (1.16–1.24) BTS steps 3–5: 1.24 (1.20–1.28) |
Bateman [10] | Multicountry | 8351 | 38 | SABA overuse was associated with increased exacerbation incidence (adjusted incidence rate ratio (95% CI)) 3–5 cannisters: 1.40 (1.24–1.58) 6–9 cannisters: 1.52 (1.33–1.74) 10–12 cannisters: 1.78 (1.57–2.02) ≥13 cannisters: 1.92 (1.61–2.29) |
BTS: British Thoracic Society.