New research from GlaxoSmithKline Inc. shows that Canadians with severe and uncontrollable asthma – a condition which requires inhaled corticosteroids plus a second controller – notably overuse oral corticosteroids (OCS) to control their conditions, despite known side effects, even at low doses.
OCSs are systemic anti-inflammatory medications used to manage respiratory diseases and allergic reactions. Common types include prednisone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone.
The national study to understand the overuse of corticosteroids found that most people with uncontrolled, severe asthma had substantial OCS use but were not on any available biologic therapy. This, they say, highlights a significant gap in the management of severe asthma.
Injectable biologics
In Canada, OCS, along with inhaled medications, have been an important treatment option historically, but “injectable biologics can be used to treat uncontrolled, severe asthma and have demonstrated OCS-reducing effects.”
The research further found that 7.5 per cent of patients had severe asthma; of those, 12.7 per cent had uncontrolled asthma. Of those with uncontrolled, severe asthma, 72 per cent were not on available biologic therapies but 40 per cent had taken four or more OCS courses.
"In an era with so many available treatment options for asthma it is appalling to witness such a high rate of OCS overuse,” says Dr. Andréanne Côté. “Better identification of uncontrolled patients and easier access to treatment optimization should be a top priority in the care of those patients."
The study, they add, highlights the need to recognize OCS overuse in Canada. Jeffrey Beach, president and CEO of Asthma Canada, adds that “it is fundamental to continue educating patients and healthcare practitioners about treatment options to protect people from OCS overuse and to optimize asthma management.”
