Patterns of bronchodilator therapy in asthmatic outpatients

BACKGROUND: Bronchodilators are used to treat asthma symptoms. The administration of this therapy can be given through monotherapy or in combination to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the prescribing pattern of bronchodilators in asthmatic outpatients METHODS: A retrospective study was done by reviewing and analyzing medical records of asthmatic outpatients from January 2019 until December 2020. Data analysis was performed descriptively. RESULTS: In this study, bronchodilators were administered by inhalation 97.4% compared to oral routes 2.6%. Combination bronchodilator therapy showed 54.7% compared to monotherapy by 46.3%. The combination ICS/LABA budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 mcg was the most widely used 45.7%. CONCLUSION: The use of a bronchodilator was in accordance with the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. The route of drug administration through inhalation is more widely used than oral. Combination bronchodilators were more recommended than bronchodilator monotherapy to control asthma symptoms.