An alarming study reveals that South Africans are overusing asthma reliever pumps. This is a risky bet with an increased danger of attacks and mortality.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways affecting more than 339 million people globally. In South Africa, more than 20% of children and 10-15% of adults have asthma. Living with asthma can impact life quality, sometimes leading to hospitalisation during attacks.
Over prescription
When it comes to asthma-related deaths, South Africa stands in fifth place globally, making the recent SABINA III study all the more crucial. It focused on reviewing SABA prescription patterns in South Africa, revealing widespread over-prescription and over-the-counter purchases. Despite updated guidelines, the SABINA III results indicate that nearly 75% of the study patients used more than three SABA canisters in the previous 12 months and over 55% were prescribed more than 10 SABA canisters.
The new recommendation advocates for a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) formoterol therapy, offering both anti-inflammatory benefits and controlled relief, irrespective of asthma severity.
The use of more than three pumps a year is associated with an increased risk of asthma attacks, hospitalisations and death. Patients who use this many blue pumps in a year should speak to their doctor immediately to re-examine and revise their asthma treatment plan.
In children, mild asthma is more common, symptomatic, and less controlled compared to adults. Like adults, the key is minimising inflammation, as overusing the SABA inhaler heightens the risk of an attack. Untreated inflammation can lead to permanent thickening of airway walls, impairing their long-term efficiency.
Do the online test
To educate people living with asthma, and to help them reduce their risk of attacks, AstraZeneca is running the Break Over-Reliance campaign. Asthma patients can assess their levels of over-reliance through a digital assessment tool, known as the Reliever Reliance Test.
