Asthmatic Subjects Could Live Without Short Acting beta2 Agonists
Asthmatic Subjects Could Live Without Short Acting beta2 Agonists
Since 2006 there was a plateau in world wide mortality from asthma. Overreliance in Short
 Acting Beta2 Agonists (SABA) was associated with increased risk of death from asthma. Long
 acting beta agonists (LABA) alone was not permitted as treatment for asthma as it was
 determined by FDA by the "black box". By contrast SABA does not have a "black box", despite
 similar overuse alerts associated with increased risk of death from asthma. the investigators
 want to know if exist asthmatic subjects that do use another rescue medication; not SABA, and
 to compare their features, Asthma Control Test (ACT), and lung function in a outpatient
 facility.

 First consecutive visits at outpatient Pulmonary Section of asthmatic subjects were
 described. Asthma Control Test (ACT) that was routinely used to assess asthma and spirometry
 were performed.
During the period from March 10, 2017 to January 16, 2018 the investigators decided to
 describe the rescue medication in all new asthmatic subjects that came for a first visit to
 the outpatient pulmonary department. Patients aged ≥16 years were entered in the study with a
 a diagnosis of asthma, based on a history of episodic dyspnea and wheezing, and/or documented
 bronchodilator reversibility in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of 12% and 200 ml
 according to the National Institutes of Health criteria; to be non- or ex-smoker of less than
 10 pack-yr, to be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding and to be capable of completing Asthma
 control test and spirometry. Consecutive patients visiting the outpatient pulmonary
 department were included in the description.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. diagnosis of asthma, based on a history of episodic dyspnea and wheezing, and/or
 documented bronchodilator reversibility in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of
 12% and 200 ml according to the National Institutes of Health criteria;

 2. to be non- or ex-smoker of less than 10 pack-yr,

 3. to be neither pregnant nor breast-feeding

 4. to be capable of completing Asthma control test and spirometry. -

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Any other pulmonary disorder than asthma. Illiteracy.

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