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Prevalence, incidence and persistence of anti-asthma medication use in 2- to 29-year-olds: a nationwide prescription study

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine gender- and age-specific prevalence, incidence, and the type of anti-asthma medications used in the Norwegian population aged 2–29 years during 2005–2007 and to estimate the share of individuals who regularly redeemed medications over a 3-year period.

Methods

We retrieved data from the nationwide Norwegian Prescription Database for all individuals 2–29 years old (n = 1.7 million) who received anti-asthma medications during 2005–2007. Medications included inhaled short- and long-acting β2-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, fixed-dose combinations of inhaled β2-agonists and corticosteroids, and leukotriene antagonists.

Results

In 2007, 5.5% (92,074 individuals) of Norwegians aged 2–29 years received anti-asthma medication, and this figure was stable throughout 2005–2007. Prevalence and incidence were higher among males than females but shifted to female dominance during adolescence. The share of anti-asthma medication users who received inhaled corticosteroids was high in preschool children but decreased by age. Conversely, use of inhaled β2-agonists as monotherapy and of fixed combinations increased with age. Fewer than half the individuals were “persistent” to medication treatment for 3 years by redeeming prescriptions regularly (at least once a year).

Conclusions

In this nationwide study, annual prevalence of anti-asthma medication use was stable during 2005–2007. The gender- and age-specific profile of prevalence and incidence correspond well with other studies. Fewer than half the individuals redeemed prescriptions regularly over 3 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Øystein Karlstad, Per Nafstad, Aage Tverdal, Svetlana Skurtveit & Kari Furu

  2. Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Per Nafstad

  3. Division of Epidemiology, Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O.Box 4404, Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Øystein Karlstad

Authors
  1. Øystein Karlstad
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  2. Per Nafstad
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  3. Aage Tverdal
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  4. Svetlana Skurtveit
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  5. Kari Furu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Øystein Karlstad.

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Sources of funding

This work was funded by the Research Council of Norway.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Karlstad, Ø., Nafstad, P., Tverdal, A. et al. Prevalence, incidence and persistence of anti-asthma medication use in 2- to 29-year-olds: a nationwide prescription study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 66, 399–406 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-009-0749-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-009-0749-x

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