Medication adherence in asthma patients: a review

Asthma is one among the major health problem affecting a number of individuals. Effectiveness of treatment not only depends on righteousness and efficiency of drug used, but also depends on the patient adherence to the prescribed treatment. Non-adherence to treatment prescribed by a physician is an important cause for asthma. Rates of asthma treatment nonadherence among patients have been shown to be in the range between 30% and 70%. This increase is associated with increased health care costs and poor health care outcomes. Surrogate measures, like prescription counting, are not infallible. Therefore, assessment of adherence is of prime importance for asthma management, for reducing exacerbations and steroid-related adverse effects as well as hospitals and intensive care admissions, health care cost and inappropriate treatment. It is a common scenario which exists depending on the severity of asthma Patient outcomes can be improved by implementing methods to improve knowledge as well as use of preventive medications during the period when they feel better. Also, patients should be informed about the importance of regular intake of medications and also about long term use of inhalers.