How this fits in

Excess prescription and use of short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) inhalers is associated with poor asthma control and increasing risk of hospital admission. This study found SABA overprescribing in >25% of the asthma population in East London, with a 10-fold variation in overprescribing rates among practices and a strong association with repeat dispensing (whereby prescriptions are issued automatically). Providing practices with tools to support the identification and management of high-risk patients based on prescribing records is warranted.