Usage of inhalation delivery devices in the treatment of adults with asthma in Outpatient Pharmacy Department, Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail Batu Pahat

Asthma has been a life threatening disease in Malaysia. A National Health and Morbidity Survey in 1996 indicated that asthma prevalence in Malaysia was 4.2%. Statistics on the causes of death have noted asthma as one of the 10 principal causes of death (7.3%) in Malaysia (Thamby et al, 2012). There are different route to deliver medications in order to treat asthma such as via oral (tablets and syrup), via injection or via inhalation route. The purpose of this study was to determine the usage of inhalation delivery devices in the treatment of adults with asthma in outpatient pharmacy department, Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail.
The prescriptions of adult asthma patients were screened and the data was analyzed. This study focused on adult asthma patients who used and prescribed by inhaler devices and not diagnosed with other respiratory disease. There were 823 adult asthma patients in the three months, but only a total of 388 prescriptions of asthmatic patients were adult, using inhaler delivery devices and not diagnosed with other respiratory problems.
Based on the results, Salbutamol (Ventolin®) was found to be the most commonly prescribed for metered-dose inhaler (MDI) monotherapy, followed by Budesonide (Pulmicort®) and lpratropium Bromide (Atrovent®). Other that that, Tiotropium Bromide Handihaler (Spiriva®) was also commonly prescribed but as an add-on option to treat more severe asthma. In the combination therapy, the most commonly prescribed was Ipratropium Bromide+Fenoterol (Berodual®) which was the most prevalent MDI and for DPI combined therapy, Budesonide + Formoterol Turbuhaler (Symbicort®) usage was increasing from month to month while the usage of Salmeterol + Fluticasone Propionate Accuhaler (Seretide®) was close to the average usage number.
At the end of study, it can be concluded that almost half of the adult asthma patients at Outpatient Pharmacy Department were using inhalation delivery devices. The usage and prescribing trends of inhalation devices to treat adult with asthma was most likely to correspond with the GINA guidelines. More study on inhalation delivery devices should be conducted so more findings can be used to treat asthma effectively.