The use of beta-agonists and the risk of death and near death from asthma

Article Abstract:

Beta-agonist drugs that are used with an inhaler to treat asthma may increase the risk of death or near death from asthma. A study of 784 patients taking asthma medication found that those who used inhaled beta-agonists were hospitalized and visited the doctor more often than patients taking other medications. Out of 129 patients with fatal or near-fatal asthma, a larger percentage used the beta-agonists albuterol and fenoterol with an inhaler than the 655 patients who had not had a fatal or near fatal asthma attack. Patients taking fenoterol had a higher risk of death or near-death than those taking albuterol. Patients prescribed beta-agonists may have more severe asthma and their risk of death may be higher before taking the drugs. Beta-agonists may be toxic to organs other than the lungs, or they may cause hypersensitivity of the airways in the lungs, making the patient's asthma worse.

Adrenergic beta agonists, Adrenergic beta-agonists

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Risk of fatal and near-fatal asthma in relation to inhaled corticosteroid use

Article Abstract:

Regular corticosteroid use by individuals with moderate to severe asthma may reduce the number of deaths and near-fatal incidents. A study of 12,301 asthmatics in Saskatchewan who had been prescribed medicine for asthma found that those who were using inhaled beclomethasone on a regular basis had one-tenth the rate of death and near-fatal incidents as those who used the steroid infrequently or those who did not use it at all. There were 44 deaths among the entire group, but none occurred in the patients using beclomethasone regularly. Of the 85 near-fatal incidents, only two occurred in these patients. This is in contrast to the routine use of beta-agonists, which are thought to exacerbate asthma.

Beclomethasone dipropionate, Beclomethasone

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Low-dose inhaled corticosteroids and the prevention of death from asthma

Article Abstract:

Regular use of inhaled corticosteroids appears to reduce the risk of death from asthma. This was the conclusion of researchers who analyzed inhaled corticosteroid use among 66 people who died from asthma and 2,681 people with asthma who were still alive. The more doses of corticosteroids used, the lower the risk of death was. Asthma patients who stopped using inhaled corticosteroids had higher death rates than those who continued to use corticosteroids.

Evaluation, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Respiratory therapy

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