Why carry out this study?

Despite the availability of effective asthma treatments, some individuals are poorly controlled because of overreliance on short-acting β2-agonists (SABAs) and underuse of inhaled corticosteroids.

As a result of growing evidence that SABA overreliance is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related exacerbations and mortality, a global view of SABA prescriptions is needed to better understand the public health burden of SABA overuse in asthma management.

As part of the SABINA (SABA use IN Asthma) program, this study aimed to provide an overview of similarities and differences in SABA prescription trends across five European countries (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden) in over one million individuals.

What was learned from the study?

SABA overuse (≥ 3 canisters per year) occurred in approximately one-third of mild, moderate, and severe individuals with asthma across Europe, despite the different healthcare and reimbursement policies of each country.

These findings indicate that there is a significant group of individuals who are not optimally treated according to current recommendations.

Following the recent 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) update, which no longer recommends treating adolescents and adults with as-needed SABA alone for symptom relief, changes in physician and patient behaviors towards SABA use, and updates to national healthcare policies, are required to ensure that individuals with asthma are not exposed to SABA alone in the treatment of their asthma.